Party spokesman Ong-art Klampai-boon said the Democrats' position would be made after considering proposed solutions from various parts of society.

Speakers, including party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, would also detail government irregularities over the past five years and explain how Thaksin's administration had hurt the country, he said.

Ong-art said the rally had nothing to do with that of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) or any other parties. It had long planned for the rally at Sanam Luang and had promoted the event in every part of the country.

However, he warned that there were attempts from the powers-that-be to block Democrat Party supporters from travelling from provinces to join the rally.

Former Democrat MPs from southern provinces said thousands of party members and canvassers were planning to come to Bangkok. The reported number was about 200 per constituency.

Some 16 buses were made available for people from Songkhla to attend the rally.

About 1,000 people, mostly canvassers from Surat Thani planned to attend the rally to show support for the province's former MP Suthep Thaugsuban, who is the party's secretary-general.

Former Songkhla MP Praporn Ek-uru, said 200 party members from his constituency would join the rally as they wanted to see and hear the truth.

Wirat Kalayasiri, another former Songkhla MP, said it was the right of members if they also wanted to join the PAD rally. But it wasn't a party move.

Adul Saheebatu, a former Narathiwat MP, said party members who wanted to attend the rally must get to Bangkok by themselves. About 200 people from his constituency set off yesterday evening.

Chamnan Mektrong, deputy chairman of the party's constituency 2 of Satun, said members in the province agreed to have 30 representatives at the rally. They left Satun yesterday evening. And more are coming from the North and Isaan.