It was still unclear why the key organisers of the protest that demanded the military junta to step down cancelled the rally.

After lengthy negotiation, the military junta allowed them to protest in front of the army headquarter until 11.30pm. The junta also agreed to meet their representatives inside the army headquarter.

Jatuporn Prompan, a key rally organiser, considered the rally as the victory of those who did not agree with the coup'etat that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last year.

The number of protesters decreased from about 6,500 to 3,500 because of heavy rain when they marched back to Sanam Luang at about 6pm.

At first, police did not allow them to march from Sanam Luang to the Army headquarter, but after negotiation, they allowed them to march on the condition they did not enter the army compound.

Meanwhile Karun Saikue, another key leader, said they will organise the anti-coup protest again on Sunday at Sanam Luang.

The anti-coup rally had started marching from Sanam Luang to the Army headquarter on Rachadamnoen road at 2.40pm.

At about 3.35pm, the rally, which gathered about 6,500 protesters, reached Agriculture Ministry which is a few blocks away from the Army headquarter.

The march organisers said earlier that they wanted the answer from the army on their demand that the military junta stepped down and its chief, Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin resigned.

They marched under the banner of Democracy Alliance against Dictatorship.

However the march faced with dozens of policemen and soldiers as well as barricades to prevent them from entering the compound.

It is reported that the military junta will allow some 20 key organisers to enter the army headquarter.

Key organisers said earlier protesters would be peaceful and urged police to arrest ill-intentioned elements who might try to exploit the situation to incite violence.

The Nation