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).

An estimated 60,000 red T-shirt-clad people from Bangkok and various provinces filled the Rajamangala National Stadium to attend the much-anticipated "Truth Today" demonstration, the highlight of which promises to be a message from Thaksin, who faces a two-year jail term in Thailand on an abuse of power charge.

"I'm here because I love Thaksin and pity him as a victim of politics," said Chai Wichit, 62, a farmer from Udorn Thani in North- east Thailand.

Chai said he and 3,000 other Thaksin fans had travelled by buses from Udorn Thani to attend the rally.

"Thaksin was the only Thai prime minister who gave to the poor," said Pradit Paengsaen, 53, from Ubon Ratchathani, recalling Thaksin's populist policies when he was prime minister between 2001 to 2006.

Thaksin was toppled by a coup on September 19, 2006, accused of mass corruption, and on October 21 was sentenced to two years in jail for abuse of power, the first of many charges to stick against him.

He now lives in self-exile in London with his wife Pojaman, who faces a three-year jail sentence in Thailand on tax evasion charges.

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.

His message will be keenly followed not just by the audience but by Thailand's Supreme Court for Political Office Holders. Last month it sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail for abusing his powers as prime minister in 2003 by allowing his wife to bid on a plot of land put up for public auction.

The court has threatened Thaksin with another seven-year jail term if he says anything Saturday night critical of the verdict that might amount to "contempt of court."

The event, organized by the "Truth Today" show and the so-called United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), comes at a time when Thailand's government is extremely fragile.

Thailand's Army Commander-in Chief General Anupong Paojinda has warned of a possible coup if there is any violence in Bangkok in coming weeks, in effect prohibiting a government crackdown on the anti-government PAD which seized Government House on August 26 and has occupied it since.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, has been the target of nearly daily protests led by the PAD, calling for his resignation and the dissolution of parliament.

Somchai has been sharply criticized by the military and a broad swathe of Thai society for allowing police to attack PAD-followers with teargas canisters on October 7 after the anti-government movement had surrounded Parliament in an effort to prevent the official launch of the new administration.

Two PAD followers died in the melee and 400 others were injured.

The PAD, a loose coalition of groups fanatically opposed to Thaksin and his political allies, sees Somchai as a nominee for the now fugitive politician who has been living in exile in London with his wife since August 11.

Thaksin's recent conviction on abuse-of-power charges was deemed a major victory for the PAD, which accuses the former telecommunications tycoon-turned-politician of monopolizing Thai politics through populist polices during his premierships from 2001 to 2006 for his own personal benefit and those of his cronies.

But many in Thailand, especially the rural and urban poor who benefited most from Thaksin's efforts to spread benefits to the grass roots, continue to view the controversial politician as a saviour and the PAD as a conservative, undemocratic movement bent of returning Thailand to a system of appointee governments typified by past military-led governments.

"We think we need to show that there are many people who disagree with the PAD," said Chaturon Chaisaeng, a former acting head of the Thai Rak Thai Party, Thaksin's now disbanded party.

"This rally is an important turning point for Thai politics," said Chaturon, who is one of the speakers at Saturday's rally. "If it can be held without violence it will make it harder for the military to stage a coup in the future." (dpa)