Pro-govt supporters in Thailand stage rally

Incident took place a day after anti-govt protestors marched in Bangkok in a "final battle" to oust the caretaker government and to usher in reform before the next election

Pro-government supporters in Thailand staged a rally Saturday a day after anti-government protestors marched in Bangkok in a "final battle" to oust the caretaker government and to usher in reform before the next election.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has urged its supporters, called Red Shirts, to avoid actions that might trigger a coup with the People's Democratic Reform Committe(PDRC) protestors, the Bangkok Post reported.

"The Red Shirts must stay out of the protests and be prepared. Don't break ranks and do anything that may create a reason for the PDRC to topple democracy. And for the independent Red Shirts teamwork is important. A tiny mistake can ruin the whole thing," UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan said.

Prompan also requested the Red Shirt members not to post any material against the PDRC protests on social networking sites which might trigger unnecessary violence.

Around 1,250 police personnel have been deployed to provide security and direct traffic around the protest site.

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban Friday led one procession to the Government House which has been closed for months, and said he would wait there for new caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn to come for talks.

Police had fired tear gas at the protestors to curb the rally.

Thailand's former caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was removed from the premiership Wednesday for abuse of power for unlawful transfer of a senior security official.

Yingluck was further impeached Thursday for a decision she had taken in a costly rice-pledging scheme.

The anti-graft agency will forward the case to the Senate to seek her impeachment.

If found guilty, Yingluck can be banned from politics for five years.