Thai PM's allies hit street as debate begins

By Vithoon Amorn

BANGKOK (Reuters) - More than 1,000 government supporters marched on Thailand's parliament on Sunday as lawmakers began a special debate on street protests threatening to topple Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

The group avoided areas of Bangkok where anti-government protesters are massed, including thousands who have occupied Samak's official compound since Tuesday and are vowing to stay until the prime minister quits.

Samak, who has said he would never bow to the demands of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), warned in his weekly radio address that his patience was wearing out.

"I am not afraid, but I am concerned about chaos in the nation," he said. "We cannot let the seizure of Government House continue indefinitely without taking action."

Samak gave no details of his meeting on Saturday with revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who holds enormous sway in Thailand and has intervened in past political disputes that threatened the country's stability.

The PAD, a motley group of businessmen, academics and activists whose campaign against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra led to his overthrow in a 2006 coup, accuses Samak of being an illegitimate proxy of Thaksin.

The PAD also proclaims itself to be a defender of the king against a supposed Thaksin plan to turn Thailand into a republic.

Both accusations are denied by Samak and Thaksin, who skipped bail on graft charges and fled to London earlier this month.

"SAMAK, FIGHT ON"

As the 10-hour debate in parliament got under way, more than 1,000 government supporters gathered outside, shouting slogans in support of Samak and denouncing the PAD.

"Samak, fight, fight. Samak, fight on; Samak, fight on," the crowd roared as police looked on.

The current unrest peaked on Friday when Bangkok police fired teargas and rubber bullets to repel an assault by 2,000 protesters on their headquarters. That same day, air and rail services were also hit by protests and strikes.

Thousands of foreign tourists remained stranded on the tourist island of Phuket on Sunday and it was not clear when Thailand's second busiest airport would reopen.

Samak condemned the closure of Phuket airport, the main international gateway to Thailand's southern beach resorts, and promised a review of airport security.

"They have been trained to handle terrorists but what happens? How have they allowed these people to encroach on the runway?" he said.