Protesters to ask for royal intervention

Opponents trying to unseat Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, announced Thursday night that they would appeal for a royally-appointed prime minister from His Majesty the King to replace Mr. Thaksin.

The move is based on Article 7 of the constitution, which allows royal intervention in special cases of turmoil. Sondhi Limthongkul, a core member of the PAD, appealed for a huge turnout at tomorrow's mass rally at the Makhawan Bridge on Rajadamneon Nok Road, likely to be the last before next weekend's election.

"Let it be our largest-ever demonstration representing the people's power to petition His Majesty the King for a royally-appointed prime minister to pave the way for the country's second-round political reform," he said.

Mr Sondhi, a local media mogul-turned arch critic against the caretaker premier, read the PAD's statement before the demonstrators after the coalition's deadline passed without any response from the caretaker prime minister.

Mr Thaksin, who flies to Udon Thani today for an election rally, said again that he has no intention of resigning.