Sit-in may cause Cabinet to move

The protesters have blocked the entrances and exits of Government House since Thursday, saying they will continue the sit-in protest, while ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra phones every night calling on more protesters across the country to join the demonstration.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called a meeting of Democrat Party leaders tomorrow to discuss finding a new place for a Cabinet meeting. However, they may cancel the meeting because the Cabinet has been granted an audience in the morning with HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the occasion of her birthday on April 2.

The premier then has to leave the country for the G-20 Summit in the United Kingdom.

For the first time last night, Thaksin did not phone in to the red shirt protesters because he wanted to meditate for his late elder sister Yaowaluck Shinwatra, whose body was cremated yesterday.

However, Thaksin will continue his phone-in today and every night to talk to his supporters, said Chatuporn Prompan, a leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship.

Excessive heat yesterday was believed to be the reason fewer protesters were seen on the fourth night.

Many escaped the sun to catch a cool breeze on the banks of a canal nearby. Organisers report, however, that more protesters are coming in from the provinces.

Meanwhile, most people surveyed by a Dusit poll believed the anti-government demonstrations would not be prolonged and were optimistic they would not escalate into turmoil.

Of 3,236 respondents from 21 provinces across the country, 61 per cent believed the situation would not get worse because circumstances were not ripe to oust the government; only 7 per cent believed the situation could get out of hand.

However, the poll found 44 per cent believed Thaksin's phone-ins could trigger unrest, while 28 per cent thought turmoil could result if the demonstrators were provoked.