March 24, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 4, 1428

BANGKOK, March 23: About 2,000 Thais held an anti-junta rally organised by members of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra's political party on Friday, demanding an end to the military-installed government.

“We are against the coup. The military government should leave now,” shouted the crowd, mostly middle-aged men and women, at Bangkok's Sanam Luang plaza as 900 policemen stood guard.

Several protesters held a picture of Thaksin, who has been living in self-imposed exile abroad since a bloodless coup in September. He was in New York when the military overthrew his twice-elected government.

“The military should leave politics. Surayud and Sonthi should get out,” said one male protester, referring to army-backed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, a former general, and junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

The protest, which followed an anti-coup rally on Sunday, was peaceful, police said. The weekend demonstration also drew at least 2,000 people.

“Police are not going to take action as the rally is unlikely to turn violent,” said Police Major General Manit Wongsomboon.

The demonstration was organised by employees at a new Thai television channel set up by members of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party.

Earlier in the month a state telecom blocked the channel, People's Television, from making its first broadcast. The telecom's board of directors is headed by General Saprang Kalayanamitra, one of the most outspoken junta members.—AFP