Thai protesters begin weekend march
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Protesters in more than 1,000 vehicles have set off for a day-long procession through the streets of the Thai capital, hoping to enlist residents in their "class war" against the government.
They plan to follow up Saturday`s march with a "blood painting", the latest shock tactic by the so-called Red Shirts in their peaceful, week-long campaign to oust the government of prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
City and police officials, fearing massive traffic jams, urged residents to use public transport and either stay at home or at work until the demonstration ends.
"Please come join us, whatever colour you wear, to liberate Thailand from a class society," protest leader Jatuporn Prompan said.
The protesters want Abhisit, whom they accuse of taking power through illegitimate means, to dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections - a demand he has repeatedly rejected. Abhisit has been sleeping and working at an army base for the past week to avoid demonstrators.
The protesters plan to loop their way for some 40 miles through Bangkok on Saturday, setting off from their encampment in the historic centre of the city and driving through the central business district, Chinatown and outlying residential areas.
The size of the protest peaked last Sunday at some 100,000 demonstrators, but has decreased by about half since then.
In an attempt to dramatise their demands, thousands of Red Shirts lined up on Tuesday to donate blood to their cause. Leaders claimed they collected 80 gallons of blood which were transferred into dozens of large plastic jugs.
Most of the blood was splattered at Abhisit's office, at the headquarters of his ruling party and at his private residence.
Protest leaders say they have 15 jugs of blood left and plan to use it to create a massive work of art on Sunday.
Press Association
