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BANGKOK - Thousands of Thai demonstrators began leaving their protest camp early Monday and prepared to march to key state buildings in a "final battle" to topple the government, their leaders said.
Crowds began leaving the Government House -- the prime minister's cabinet offices which they have occupied since late August -- at about 6:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday) and gathered at a road junction just outside the compound.
"Get ready, gather at the intersection with masks, clean water and towels," a spokesman from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest group told the thousands of people gathered in Bangkok's historic district.
The protesters were told to bring the masks in case the police use tear gas to disperse them."People who stay at Government House, don't worry, we have mechanisms, we will not be dispersed," he said.
The speakers on stage did not reveal their supporters' destinations, but rumours circulated that protesters were heading to the nearby Bangkok police headquarters or to the finance ministry.
Thai television, meanwhile, speculated that other targets could be the stock exchange or Don Mueang airport, where Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's cabinet has been meeting since Government House was occupied.
PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul had late Sunday said supporters would divide into groups and descend on different locations for a "final battle" against the government, which they accuse of acting as a corrupt puppet of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
"It will be our longest day. The leaders have already planned our battle tactics... in this war the protesters will seize our capital back," he said.
PAD leaders had also said Sunday that their main aim was to block parliament to prevent a joint session due to start at 9:30am Monday.
The last time PAD protesters left Government House and rallied outside parliament on October 7, police fired tear gas and the crowd fought back, with the resulting clashes leaving two people dead and nearly 500 injured. - AFP/vm
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