"We will fight on to achieve political reforms and plan to spell out our goals at the upcoming rally," spokesman Suriyasai Katasila said.

Even though Thaksin Shinawatra will not resume his premiership for a third term, the alliance views this as a first stage it its campaign and is contemplating the second stage of uprooting "Thaksinism", Suriyasai said, referring to the premier's style of leadership.

For as long as Thaksin is the behind-the-scenes leader, the Thai Rak Thai Party will keep posing problems for society with its populist policies, privatisation of state enterprises, free-trade agreements and the media harassment, he said.

He also called on the police to abandon what he called a policy of the selective law enforcement aimed at harassing alliance supporters upcountry.

The Nation