AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
Several thousand protesters allied with Thailand's exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra march toward the prime minister's office in Bangkok Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, demanding a dissolution of Parliament and the holding of new elections.
A Right To Rule
AP/S. Lalit, Apichart Weerawong
A protest leader said the demonstration was being staged to show Thailand's Southeast Asian neighbors that Abhisit's government had no right to rule. At right: A Thai supporter of the exiled former prime minister wears a headband and a scarf that read, "I miss Thaksin."
Another Upheaval
Kyodo via AP Images
Several thousand rally against the government of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in Bangkok, Feb. 24. Thailand was plagued by political upheaval last year when demonstrators who opposed then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra occupied the seat of government for three months and also took over Bangkok's two airports for eight days.
Defense
AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
Thai soldiers stand guard in the compound of the prime minister's office. Abhisit's government held its weekly Cabinet meeting in Hua Hin, 90 miles away, instead of its usual venue at Government House, at which some 3,000 police in riot gear were deployed. Two thousand Army troops were on standby in the area, said police Lt. Gen. Worapong Chiewpreecha.
Exiled
AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
A protester holds a poster of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in front of the prime minister's office in Bangkok, Feb. 24, 2009.
Parting The Black Sea
AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
Protesters funnel through riot police in front of the prime minister's office in Bangkok Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.
Blockade
AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
Riot policemen block protesters from trying to cross a fence in front of the prime minister's office in Bangkok.
Monk
AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
A Buddhist monk and protesters allied with Thaksin Shinawatra try to cross a fence to the prime minister's office in Bangkok, Feb. 24, 2009.
"Save Thaksin"
AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong
A demonstrator allied with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves a flag as another holds a banner that reads "Save Thaksin" while standing during a rally atop a truck outside the government house in Bangkok.
Flags
AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong
The crowd swelled to about 20,000 people as dusk approached, police said.
Drive Away
AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong
A steamroller used by Thai authorities to block the entrance to the government house is driven away by demonstrators. Protest leaders Jakrapob Penkair said demonstrators would camp out there for at least two days to press their demands, but would not break into the building as their political rivals had done.
