Five large fire trucks from Suvarnabhumi Airport are being stationed inside Government House and 600 police officers are on 24-hour standby. Around 100 police officers are at Thaksin's home in Soi Charansanitwong 69, where steel barricades have been erected to keep crowds away from the house.

Another 10 conventional fire engines and three spotlight trucks are on standby at the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Around 300 police officers are also being based at Thai Rak Thai Party headquarters on Phetburi road.

The heightened security apparently resulted from an intelligence report which predicted demonstrators might set up camp outside the two locations until Thaksin resigned.

Justice Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said protesters would be allowed to surround Government House as long as traffic was not obstructed or the entrances blocked.

He repeated an agreement between police and the military that police would handle the situation without the Army's assistance. He said police officers at the locations were not carrying pistols and that they were under orders to avoid using force.