Main goal unachieved after 2nd day of protests

They began the battle at 4am at the prime minister's temporary office in Don Mueang Airport, but their efforts to obstruct the Cabinet failed as the weekly meeting was not held.

No ministers were there and the police allowed protesters to enter the compound.

Some moved on to the Thai Military headquarters on Chaeng Wattana Road, believing the Cabinet was meeting there. However, Lt-General Surat Worarak, chief of the Civil Affairs department, told protesters there would be no meeting at the military headquarters, either.

At 4.30pm some PAD protesters joined others at Suvarnabhumi Airport, expecting Prime Minister Somchai to fly in from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Peru.

The reason for the airport gathering was unclear. So too was the prime minister's schedule. Reports from journalists accompanying the premier said Somchai would land at 7pm today after being delayed several hours behind his original schedule. PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan said, nevertheless, the protesters would go everywhere to block the Cabinet meeting.

Government Spokesman Nattawut Saikua said the PAD could not pressure Somchai to step down or dissolve the Lower House. The government would not yield to the undemocratic and unconstitutional attempts by anti-government protesters to force it out of office, he said.

"The prime minister insisted he was elected by the voters.

If he is to lose his job, it must be in line with the law or democratic principles. He won't make his political decisions due to pressure from outside the system," the spokesman said.

"The PAD may call their latest rally a victory, but it has caused damage to Thailand and Thai people. And they won't be able to force the government to stop performing its duties," he said.

The spokesman said authorities were collecting evidence against those who had violated the law, particularly people responsible for cutting off power and water supplies to state agencies and for commandeering public buses.

Police would appeal against the Administrative Court order banning violent suppression of protesters by presenting the latest evidence.

The spokesman said authorities would still resort to non-violent means in dealing with the PAD protesters, although some acts of their leaders were against the Constitution.

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4am: A convoy of buses carrying protesters leaves the Royal Turf Club, in Nang Lerng, for the temporary seat of government at Don Mueang Airport.

5.20am: Another batch of protesters departs Government House for Don Mueang.

11.30am: Somsak Kosaisuk, a co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, takes to the stage at the Don Mueang rally site and urges protesters to head for the Supreme Command headquarters on Chaeng Wattana Road.

13.30pm: Protesters start arriving at the Supreme Command headquarters, which is suspected to be the venue of the weekly Cabinet meeting.

15.15pm: Former Maha Sarakham MP Suchart Srisang lodges a petition on the behalf of PAD requesting that the military protect the country's democracy with His Majesty as head of state.

16.30pm: Protesters disperse from the Supreme Command and move to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in wait for the PM's arrival from Peru.