The People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday asked the police to cancel all cases against them or else take legal action against the supporters of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

PAD leaders Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk and spokesman Suriyasai Katasila, as well as 300 supporters, went to the Royal Thai Police headquarters where 200 officers had been deployed to keep order.

Barricades had been erected and metal-detectors and bag scanners were used to examine all visitors entering the building.

The PAD leaders gave police a picture of Colonel Ritthirong Thepjanda, the chief of Metropolitan Police Division 6, talking to two men manhandling anti-Thaksin protesters at CentralWorld during a clash on Monday.

They asked the police to take action against both the anti-Thaksin protesters and supporters equally.

The group also parked two amplifier-equipped pickup trucks in front of the police headquarters for PAD leaders to deliver speeches.

Sondhi said the car-bomb plot on Thursday had been fabricated because the power of the explosives had been exaggerated while the information from the police was confused.

Police charged the group for parking vehicles obstructing the traffic and unauthorised use of an amplifier.

PAD supporters later moved to the Pathum Wan police station to file more complaints for those injured in Thursday's clash and the previous confrontation at the Siam Paragon shopping centre on Saturday.

Police allowed only six people - those filing the complaints and their lawyers - into the building while people waiting outside sang songs and carried posters condemning the work of the police in controlling the clashes between anti and pro-Thaksin supporters.

Sumalee Harnpanyapichit,

Kwanhatai Malakan

The Nation