Thai protesters' push pre-poll

More demonstrations are threatened after Sunday's poll

Thousands of demonstrators have marched on the Election Commission in Thailand demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The latest protest follows an overnight sit-in in Bangkok by some 50,000 people calling for Mr Thaksin to be disqualified from Sunday's snap poll.

The prime minister's opponents accuse him of corruption and abuse of power.

Mr Thaksin called the election three years early in hope of ending months of street protests in Thailand.

"This is a very critical moment. Only people power can force Prime Minister Thaksin to quit," rally leader Chamlong Srimuang told protesters gathered outside the commission.

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Some 2,000 supporters of Mr Thaksin have also been holding their own protest on Thursday outside the headquarters of a newspaper group in Bangkok which published an election-related article that appeared to insult King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The newspaper, Kom Chad Luek, has closed down for three days to apologise for the report which printed only a partial quote by a leading critic of the prime minister, Sondhi Limthongkul, making it potentially inflammatory.

One senior member of staff at the paper has also resigned.

King Bhumibol is the world's longest-ruling monarch and has great influence across Thailand. Insulting the king is a criminal offence.

The BBC's Phil Mercer in Bangkok says the newspaper has asked for a royal pardon although no formal charges have yet been laid.

The drama has added more tension to the run-up to Sunday's national elections, our correspondent adds.

Waning support

Mr Thaksin said protesters were courting police action

Some opinion polls suggest support for the anti-Thaksin campaign is weakening and demonstrators said Thursday would be the last day of their marathon rally before the election.

However, Mr Chamlong, a former politician and one of Mr Thaksin's fiercest critics, warned that Thailand would face chaos after this weekend's election and called for another major demonstration after the balloting.

Mr Thaksin has condemned the demonstrations, saying protesters were courting police action. He has cancelled his own rally in a nearby park on Friday to "avoid confrontation".

His Thai Rak Thai party is expected to maintain its huge majority in the election on Sunday, but a boycott by opposition parties could make the result constitutionally invalid.

Mr Thaksin denies any wrongdoing and says he will not resign. He has offered to include opposition parties in a new government if he is re-elected, but they have refused to participate.