Thailand began mobilising 50,000 security personnel on Thursday ahead of a mass rally by protesters who have vowed to topple government if a new election is not called.

Supporters of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra plan a mass rally this weekend, the latest bid to reclaim power by the mainly rural mass movement that has transformed Thai politics.

Thaksin allies have won two elections since 2001 only to be turfed out of power by royalist elites and military brass, including through a coup in 2006.

The "red shirts", who say Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is an illegitimate stooge of the country's political establishment and politicised military, will stage protests across the country on Friday, before converging on central Bangkok on Sunday.

"If (the government) hasn't quit by the 15th, we will march all over Bangkok. It'll be the biggest march Bangkok has ever seen," Nattawut Saikua, a "red shirt" leader, told reporters.

They plan to rally for at least seven days in what has been dubbed "a million-man march" and "an operation to halt Bangkok", although analysts doubt the group can mobilise such numbers.

A special law, the Internal Security Act (ISA), came into effect on Thursday, giving the country's top security agency broad powers to intervene.

Abhisit and his deputy, Suthep Thaugsuban, will be based at a temporary military command centre during the protest.

"If there is a siege, we would no longer consider it a peaceful protest and immediately take steps to disperse the crowds," Suthep told reporters.

Protesters have insisted their rallies will be peaceful and say the government is playing up the threat of violence to justify a possible crackdown.


Agencies

Related news reports:

Thai protesters to go ahead despite security law

Thailand to impose security law for pro-Thaksin rally