Thousands of red-shirted Thai citizens have rallied in the capital, Bangkok, to protest against the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who came to power four months ago.
Police at various sites in the city, including government offices, where demonstrators have been staging a sit-in for the past two weeks.
Protesters loyal to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra believe Mr Abhisit came to power illegally, and accuse the current government of being a puppet of the military.
Police were stationed around the residence of one of the king's top advisers, Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, who has been accused by Mr Thaksin of orchestrating the coup that toppled him in 2006.
PM Abhisit has dismissed calls from the protesters to resign. He warned them that if violence broke out, the government would do everything it could to restrain the demonstrators.
Mr Thaksin, who is living in an undisclosed foreign country, urged more supporters to gather and called the protests an "historic day for Thailand".
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