Bangkok- Tens of thousands of Thais gathered Saturday at a rally in Bangkok to demonstrate support for fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and opposition to the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Bangkok - Thousands of pro-government protestors flocked to Bangkok Saturday from the provinces to attend a mass rally in the capital aimed at counter-balancing months of anti-government demonstrations led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Bus-loads of people hailing from various provinces headed for the Rajamangala National Stadium, creating traffic jams along Ramkhamhaeng road, to claim their places at the much-anticipated "Truth Today" demonstration the highlight of which promises to be a message from Thailand's fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin, currently in Hong Kong, was scheduled to deliver a message to the audience at 9:30 pm Saturday in a pre-recorded video, according to organizers of the event.

Bangkok - Embattled Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has tentative plans to visit Laos, Vietnam, India and Peru next month, Foreign Affairs Ministry sources said Friday as he faces demonstrations at home that are seeking his ouster.

Somchai, who has been premier since September 25, is to visit Vientiane, Laos, for a day-trip that is to begin Monday, said deputy ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi.

Bangkok  - Hundreds of protestors descended on the British embassy in Bangkok Thursday to demand the extradition of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from London to face a two-year jail term in Thailand.

An estimated 1,500 followers of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has been staging anti-government protests since May, marched Thursday after Thaksin was sentenced October 21 on an abuse-of-power conviction.

"We want England to send Thaksin back to Suvarnabhumi Airport, but this time, we want him to lick the ground and not just bow to it," said Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a key leader of the PAD.

Bangkok - Thai shares rose 6.29 per cent Thursday as domestic investors snapped up bargains.

Bangkok - Hundreds of protestors descended on the British embassy in Bangkok Thursday to demand the extradition of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from London to face a two-year jail term in Thailand.

An estimated 1,500 followers of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has been staging anti-government protests since May, marched Thursday after Thaksin was sentenced October 21 on an abuse-of-power conviction.