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BANGKOK: Thailand's rural underclass, vying to revive flagging momentum after a week of colourful protests, appealed on Thursday for a popular uprising against the well-entrenched political and aristocratic elite.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva renewed an offer of talks with the so-called Red Shirt movement, but has stood firm against its demands for snap elections.
Police said numbers had dwindled to 38,000 at the rally site, from more than 100,000 at the weekend, as the remaining Red Shirts sought to reach out to Bangkok's middle classes in their campaign against the all-powerful elite.
"I ask workers and government employees who feel injustice to join us," said Suporn Atthawong, a protest leader from northeast Thailand, the heartland of support for populist former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"Rural grassroots people join hands with the middle class to drive Abhisit from his post," he urged the crowds.
Leader Nattawut Saikur said the protest, which has so far been peaceful and overseen by a massive contingent of security forces, would on Saturday "spread out on every road across Bangkok to appeal to more people to join us".
"This afternoon our provincial leaders will give their political views from the stage and declare their class war," Nattawut told reporters, claiming reinforcements would also arrive from the north for Saturday's drive.
Abhisit appeared in a nationally televised address from an army barracks in the city's northern outskirts, where he has been based for most of the rally, and reiterated his offer of dialogue.
"I am ready to talk with any Red groups," he said, adding that the government was ready to discuss the dissolution of parliament "if every party agrees that the dissolution will truly lead to genuine peace".
But the protesters said they would only talk if immediate elections were called. "Our demand is clear and public - that Abhisit must dissolve the house," said senior Red Shirt Jatuporn Prompan.
The protesters say Abhisit's government is illegitimate because it came to power with army backing via a December 2008 parliamentary vote, after a controversial court ruling ousted Thaksin's allies.
They say they are campaigning against the formidable power of Thailand's ruling class - including military and palace officials - whom they accuse of ousting elected governments and defending yawning social inequality.
The Reds are largely followers of Thaksin, a billionaire telecoms tycoon who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, staunchly supporting the populist policies he introduced before a 2006 coup ousted him.
The protesters paralysed streets on Wednesday as they fanned across Bangkok, crowding outside the US and British embassies to denounce alleged interference against Thaksin after hurling their own blood at Abhisit's house and offices.
While Abhisit offered talks, a government spokesman confirmed Thursday that the premier had also told lawyers to begin legal action against Thaksin and Red leaders for making false accusations against him.
Thaksin himself, who has spoken to the crowd via video link each night, has been in Montenegro since Saturday and has taken citizenship of the European Balkan state, Montenegrin police said Wednesday.
Since his ousting, Thailand has been rocked by protests of both his supporters and opponents.
His loyalists massed in Bangkok planned a day of rest and meetings for most of Thursday, followed by an evening of music and dancing - apparently designed to keep spirits and numbers up. Related article: Thai protesters picket US embassy
But doubts about their chances of winning are intensifying.
"Though the Red Shirts have succeeded in calling attention to their agenda, the major societal forces of Thailand appear stacked against them," said Paul Chambers, a Thailand specialist at Heidelberg University in Germany.
"This includes the monarchy, soldiers in top positions, courts, the ruling coalition and most business groups." - AFP/de
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