Yesterday's rally was organised by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and took place in front of the Charoen Pokphand Group building, as a symbolic gesture to highlight the boycott of goods and services from CP and Shin Corp, seen as close to Thaksin.

"Office workers should unite and stop work for one day to salvage the nation, which is dominated by the capitalist dictatorial regime," protest organiser Somsak Kosaisuk said.

Somsak urged workers to participate in the march from Sanam Luang to Government House. Crowds of people will muster today at the rallying point at 6am and begin marching at 7am, he said.

Two other protest leaders, Rosana Tositrakul and Salee Ongsomwang, urged mobile phone users to return SIM cards provided by Advanced Info Service Co, a subsidiary of Shin Corp.

Many civic groups agreed to join the boycott of AIS mobile phone services, Salee said. These included the FTA Watch Group, a

dentists association and the Bo

Nok environmental conservation group.

A government supporter, Chaiwut Aksornsit distributed flyers urging people to vote in the April 2 election in a bid to counter the anti-Thaksin protest.

An Abac Poll showed that 80.3 per cent of Bangkok residents did not plan to boycott Shin Corp.

About 41 per cent said they deemed the boycott inappropriate.

Asked about the call for Singapore's Temasek Holdings to cancel the Shin Corp takeover, 26.5 per cent said they were in favour, 17.7 per cent opposed and 55.8 per cent had no opinion on the matter.

About 73 per cent called for negotiations to end the political turmoil.

The opinion survey was conducted over the weekend on a sample of 1,481 respondents.