The BMA has set up a centre on the fifth floor of City Hall to monitor the protest situation around the clock, he added.

In preparation for the mass rallies being held outside the Army headquarters until tomorrow, Apirak urged BMA executives and district directors to work with police in risky areas.

He also asked officials to inform local residents and taxi riders about the situation, suggesting that residents and riders not join the protest as violence might occur.

If taxi riders join the protest and create violence, the BMA - whose authority includes issuing permits for motorcycle-taxi stands - might revoke the licences and proceed with legal action against wrongdoers, he said.

The BMA is also cooperating with city police in dispatching municipality officials, firemen and water trucks to "accommodate" the protesters, the governor said.

Thaksin in more hot water?

Thaksin Shinawatra faces another ban from politics after it was noted that his assets declaration to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) last year differed from evidence given to the Assets Examination Commission (AEC).

NCCC member Klanarong Chantik said yesterday that one of the accounts Thaksin reported to the NCCC last year was different from Bank of Thailand information submitted to the AEC.

"If we prove Thaksin declared [assets] by false documents, he must be banned from politics for five years," Klanarong said.

Networks fear bloodshed

Pro-people networks yesterday called for all parties to use peaceful means to solve the country's problems or else there might be bloodshed. The People's Network for Elections (PNET), the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Campaign Committee for Human Rights (CCR) said in a joint statement that the political atmosphere in the country would likely to lead to confrontation and that using violence to solve the crisis would lead to riots and bloodshed.