Fund-raising for rallies

He also cited a security report that 100,000 vehicles of various types would enter Bangkok and as many as 1 million protesters would converge on the capital on March 14 with a view to peacefully overthrowing the government within three days. If they failed in that objective, protesters would as a fallback position try to oust the administration by March 20, he cited the report as saying. Thepthai said the security report revealed that the red shirts' operation would be divided into two phases.

They will first drum up support in at least 38 provinces until March 11, and then gather in large numbers in Bangkok with the Phan Fah Bridge on Rajdamnoen Avenue as their focal point centre, plus six subcentres.

Red-shirt-sympathising Buddhist monks will also gather at Bangkok's Sanam Luang, he added. The report also indicated that all former MPs from the dissolved Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties had been assigned the task of filling 200 vehicles carrying 10 passengers each.

Well-trained former Army officers - clad in black and carrying bamboo sticks - will serve as guards, he said.

Meanwhile, Democrat MP for Bangkok Kowit Tharana urged people who disagree with the red shirts to wear a ribbon in the tricolour of the national flag.

He said they should also carry placards saying they oppose violence.

Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai Itthidej Kaewluang said as many as 10,000 pickups carrying seven to 10 passengers each would head for Bangkok from the northern region alone to urge Abhisit to dissolve the House of Representatives.

"We would like Bangkokians to be sympathetic, because it's not often that rural folk get to visit Bangkok while Bangkokians always travel to the provinces. But since there will be so many people, I'm wondering if the government can handle it. If the government can't handle it, then it cannot stay in power. I'm personally fully prepared for a new election," he said.