Security tightened at Bangkok's government offices ahead of planned mass rally

BANGKOK, March 6 (TNA) -- Combined Thai army and police forces have tightened security at government offices in Bangkok ahead of a planned major

demonstration by anti-government movement of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) next weekend in a bid to pressure the

coalition government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to bring about massive political change.

Checkpoints have been set up in Bangkok round the clock while suspicious-looking vehicles were searched, particularly those passing Government House,

Parliament, the Supreme Court, the horse racing stadium and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Assistant national police chief, Pol Lt-Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, as Royal Thai Police spokesman, is to meet with police officials nationwide Sunday

afternoon via video conference about the movements of the UDD protesters.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Metropolitan Police on Tuesday will announce traffic measures in effect during the demonstrations in the capital next weekend, when

Red Shirt demonstrators say they will bring thousands of vehicles to block the roads.

Red Shirt UDD protesters nationwide will begin moving to Bangkok on March 12 and will gather at Sanam Luang on the morning of March 14. The

movement leaders have said that one million protesters would join the protest in an attempt to bring about either the dissolution of parliament, or the

departure of the Abhisit government as the political change the movement desires. (TNA)