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Pro-Thaksin red shirts staked out the Democrat office in Lampang, before pelting the former PM with rotten eggs but police managed to prevent a similar attack in Lamphun.

Chuan said later he was not frightened or overly upset by the incident.

"I think we [Democrat Party members] should not avoid or run away from the protesters otherwise they will achieve their goal to block us from the election campaign," he said in a TV interview. He was still able to campaign and go to places as planned.

Chuan said he escaped the pelting as eggs only hit his glasses and then broke over other people. He urged the protesters to stop as their behaviour would anger other groups and may stir them to retaliate.

Chuan admitted some senior figures had warned him about death threats against Abhisit Vejjajiva. He thought the prime minister should be careful.

The two-time premier encountered red-shirt protesters after arriving at Chiang Mai at 7.40am. Five members of the Chiang Mai Loving People group came up and shouted abuse as he left the airport.

The group was led by Kanyaphak Maneejak, a local deejay. They shouted that Chiang Mai people did not welcome Chuan and abused him till he left in a van for Lampang. But on reaching Lampang at 10am, Chuan and his team found another protest by about 100 red shirts.

Supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gathered at Srichoom Temple then travelled in 12 vehicles and some motorcycles to wait for Chuan in front of Namthong Market in Muang district.

Chuan had been scheduled to walk through the market with the Democrat candidate in the Lampang by-election to win support after riding in a campaign pickup together. But the truck was blocked by the protesters, who called themselves the 'Lampang Loving Group'.

They rushed to bombard it with plastic water bottles and eggs, causing a mess in the back of the truck. Chuan's face and clothes were wet with broken eggs.

The attack prompted the campaign team to halt its activities. Police then stepped in to provide a safe passage for Chuan, escorting his vehicle to Lamphun and deploying patrol cars along the way.

His vehicle was not allowed to stop for fear it would be mobbed by red shirts and attacked again. Pro-Thaksin supporters, honking their vehicles' horns, turned on headlights and shouted at the Democrat until he left Lampang.

About 30 protesters were at the Lamphun office when Chuan arrived at 2pm. They carried bags of rotten eggs, and waited to attack the former PM and his campaign team. When a van left the Democrat office, it was pelted with eggs.

Police stepped in and stopped protesters from attacking the van, allowing it to leave for a shopping plaza in Muang district, where Chuan helped his party candidate campaign.

In Bangkok, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said local people should be allowed to take part in election campaigns and talk to people. Supporters of other parties should carry out their own campaigns without trying to disrupt other parties. He said the government tried to reach an understanding with the protesters. "The government will not create rifts and we have been trying to preserve a good atmosphere," Abhisit said.

Protesters could rally and raise banners to criticise the government but they should not throw things.

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said he worried about Chuan's security so he rang his support team. "They said Chuan thinks he can handle the situation. He knew what he would face but he may think he can talk and reach an understanding with the local people," Satit said.