Thai protesters shift protest aim to topple government

BANGKOK, Feb 26 (TNA) - Leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) announced Thursday they would intensify their protest to oust the Democrat-led government as their four-point list of demands has yet to be met.

The UDD made the announcement as the anti-government demonstrators, known as the Red Shirts
because of their bright red shirts, continued to surround Government House for the third day on Thursday.

They demanded that Parliament be dissolved and new elections held, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya
removed because of his links to the UDD's arch rival, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement which seized the country's two main airports last year to oust the previous government aligned to the convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The UDD leaders also criticised the government and the armed forces stating that military personnel being found mingling with the red-clad protesters for intelligence-gathering purposes.

They said they had evidence to substantiate their claim and would carry their protest to seek clarification
on the issue from the army chief and the Region 1 army commander.

Deputy government spokesman Putthipong Punnagun denied the charges, saying neither the government nor the military authorised such an operation.

The UDD threatened to prolong their demonstrations and shifted their protests to several areas.

Some Red Shirt protesters were to march on the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Thursday afternoon to protest the graft busters appointed by the coupmakers who toppled Mr. Thaksin
in September 2006. (TNA)