Twenty medics from Ramathi-bodi Hospital walked to Govern-ment House yesterday afternoon to join the rally and present a petition of 300 signatures from hospital staff to show support for the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Dr Yaowanut Kongdan, leader of the group, said they represented "doctors and nurses for democracy", not the hospital.

Senior medical lecturers, leading doctors, nurses, pharmacists and students signed the petition.

President of the Rural Doctors Society, Dr Pongthep Wongwat-charapaiboon, said the hundreds of thousands of people joining the political movement represented a poignant display of social awareness.

The display of power outside Government House would be important for the country's political development, as well as political reform in the near future, he said.

"The Rural Doctors Society is asking for our friends in the health profession who share the same ideology to spend their free time volunteering to take care of demonstrators who fall ill during the rally," Pongthep said.

"They have shown support for democracy by declaring their demands for Thaksin's removal. So not only can we take care of their health, we can also encourage them in the mission, and show the government that people in all sectors of society no longer accept this government," he said.

The Relatives Committee of the May 1992 Heroes also sent a note to Thaksin, through Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya, requesting that the premier solve the current political crisis with patience and compassion.

The letter urges the premier to make sacrifices to set a good example to the people and inspire unity.

The group also asked for demonstrators to be patient and to avoid violence. However, they stopped short of demanding that the prime minister step down.

Adul Khiewboriboon, chairman of committee, said Thaksin had presented himself as fit to administer the country, and thus should know what course of action to take now.

"People currently have such different opinions that it could easily lead to confrontation. The first mission for a leader is to create unity in society. Which is why the prime minister should urgently solve this problem.

"As for the key members of the PAD, we have told them we don't want any violence. We believe they understand and will be careful. If there is any violence, I don't believe anybody will dare to take responsibility," he said.