June 17, 2007	Sunday	Jumadi-us-Sani 01, 1428

BANGKOK, June 16: Thousands of supporters of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra braved rainy skies and heavy security late on Saturday to protest against the junta that deposed him.

The demonstration came a day after Thaksin addressed crowds in a recorded speech from London, urging the junta to push ahead with elections set for December and calling for reconciliation after months of political turmoil.

Police said about 10,000 people filled a plaza in central Bangkok, where they chanted “Fight, Thaksin, fight” under a giant banner reading “Democracy now”.

The size of the crowd was rivalled by the security force, with more than 10,000 police mobilised for the protest and another 13,000 soldiers on standby in case of any violence, officials said.

The military had also beefed up security around its nearby headquarters, blocking the road with metal barricades and surrounding the compound with barbed wire, said police spokesman Colonel Supisarn Bhakdinarinach.—AFP