Thailand boosts security for phone call from ousted PM

Bangkok: Thailand's military and police were on alert on Saturday as the country braced for fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to speak by telephone at a rally that many fear could spark more political violence.

Thousands of supporters poured into a Bangkok stadium for the seven-hour rally, with the highlight expected to be the phone call from Thaksin in the evening.

The rally comes after several recent outbreaks of violence in Thailand's extended political crisis, which remains focused on Thaksin despite his ouster in a 2006 military coup and a criminal conviction last month.

Thaksin, who fled to Britain in August, remains the country's most influential politician. He is adored by the poor who benefited from his populist policies, but reviled by many of the educated elite in the cities, where his administration was seen as deeply corrupt.

Authorities fear the rally, organised by the pro-government United Front for Democracy Against
Dictatorship, could spark trouble between the two sides.

"About 1,000 crowd control police are deployed at the site and 2,000 more are on standby, ready for reinforcement if we see signs of trouble," said Major Gen. Amnuay Nimmano, Bangkok's deputy police chief.

Thai army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkumnerd said the military will be on alert to back up police.

On Thursday, a grenade attack wounded 10 members of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy. The attack occurred near the prime minister's office compound, which has been occupied by the alliance since August. The prime minister has been forced to work out of Bangkok's old international airport.