A woman with a T-shirt reading ‘Thaksin Fight On’ joins the anti-government rally organised by PTV at Sanam Luang yesterday. At the other end of the park, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was officially launching the Songkran festival.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont opened the city's week-long Songkran festival yesterday evening amid tight security at Sanam Luang as about 2,000 anti-government protesters rallied at the opposite end of the field.

The prime minister officially launched the Colourful Celebra-tions of Songkran Festival at the end of Sanam Luang closest to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The festival features cultural performances and sound-and-light shows, and runs until Sunday.

At the other end of the field, the banned PTV held its rally against the Surayud administration and the Council for National Security (CNS).

PTV director Nattawut Saikua delivered a fiery speech to open the rally at 6pm. Nattawut's attack focused on General Saprang Kalayanamitr. Saprang was accused of resorting to violence for saying he might "need to shoot some dogs".

Other protest organisers took turns attacking the CNS but kept the heat on Saprang. The generals were accused of condoning nepotism and abusing their authority.

Other anti-government groups collected signatures to seek the removal of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda who they accused of masterminding the September 19 coup.

The White Dove 2006 group distributed leaflets informing people that they were collecting signatures to support their call for Prem's removal.

However, the group said it opposed petitioning His Majesty the King to remove Prem.

Postcards carrying a message demanding the "ouster of dictators, the Council for National Security and traitors" were distributed. The cards contained a space for supporters to sign names and indicate the people they wanted removed.

White Dove set up a tent at the centre of Sanam Luang while another group - Satur-

day People Against Dictatorship - set up a stage at the north corner of the grounds, near Pinklao Bridge.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampai-boon called on the government to crack down on those funding anti-government rallies, saying the rallies could spark violence that could be used as a reason to topple the government.

"If the government knows who is behind the rallies it has to prevent the problem from worsening. The failure to stop such political movements may be cited as a reason to bring down the government," he said.

Ong-art dismissed speculation a coup was brewing, saying he saw no signs of one.

The Thai Rak Thai Party on Friday suggested a coup was possible soon, pointing to moves to oust the government and Surayud Chulanont as well as the activities of the People's Alliance for Democracy in the provinces.