Renewed effort to oust Thai PM

By Kylie Morris
BBC News, Bangkok

The marches have become a weekly fixture

Tens of thousands of Thai protesters have marched through Bangkok's central shopping district, one week ahead of a snap election.

Organisers say it is their final push to try to force Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power before the poll.

His critics accuse him of corruption and abusing power, which he denies.

Pressure has been building on Mr Thaksin since the sale in January of his family's controlling share of a huge telecoms company for $1.9bn.

Carnival atmosphere

His only comment a week before the poll was a plea to protestors to respect the results of the elections. Otherwise, he warned, the country could become a nightmare.

Mr Thaksin has called for the result of the poll to be respected

On Sunday, it was more of a parade, with hordes of protestors sweeping down the city's main shopping street, drawing crowds of bemused tourists and sparking short tempers among some motorists.

They shouted 'Thaksin get out' - the catchphrase of the demonstrations which have become a weekly fixture in the capital.

Overnight, a large crowd convened near Government House to hear protest leaders call for a royal intervention by the King and for the appointment of an interim prime minister.

But that seems unlikely. Observers say the fact the King's chief advisor cast an advance vote is a sign the time is not right for a royally appointed prime minister.

With only one week to go, it is impossible to predict what the elections might bring.

Mr Thaksin says he only wants the people's vote to be respected.

But the protestors are unlikely to respect a result that returns him to power. The poll risks only worsening the crisis.