Reinforcements are brought in to protect the Army’s headquarters as anti-junta demonstrators plan to move their protests from Sanam Luang to the military’s HQ.

And there are plans for anti-coup rallies in five cities in Isaan and the North - so that rural villagers can avoid Army checkpoints aimed at stopping them going to protests in Bangkok.

A source in the anti-coup camp said protesters would march from Sanam Luang to the Army headquarters on Rajdamnoen Avenue.

The source said they might also go to Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda's house to demand the resignation of the Council for National Security.

He said rally organisers would tell demonstrators that Prem was behind the September 19 coup last year.

The anti-coup leaders would also speak at the rally about the Assets Examination Committee's decision to freeze the assets of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his family.

Meanwhile, a group of former Thai Rak Thai MPs who call themselves Pro-Thaksin No Coup is preparing to hold rallies in Udon Thani, Roi Et, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces on Saturday.

Group leader Nisit Situprai yesterday claimed that the Public Relations Department had banned a new album by country singer Sayan Sanya from a television programme after Sayan made a speech critical of the junta.

Rural administrators have tried unsuccessfully to persuade villagers not to join anti-coup rallies in Bangkok, the president of the Kamnan and Village Heads Association said yesterday.

Paisal Prakarnrat said association members had attempted to explain the political situation to rural people in areas of their jurisdiction, but to no avail.

He said kamnan and village headmen had not encouraged demonstrators to protest against the government at Sanam Luang.

"We know that groups of protesters planned to go to Bangkok, and security officials may be able to control them. But security officers are unable to block those who travel to Bangkok independently, as it is hard to confirm whether they are going there to join mobs," he said.

Provincial governors have been ordered by Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya to keep an eye on the movement of demonstrators and report developments to the Internal Security Operations Command in their region.