Thai protesters turn up pressure in Bangkok

Anti-government protest leaders in Thailandhave vowedto step up the pressure anddirect convoys through 11 main roads in central Bangkok that authorities have declared off-limits.

"We will teach the government a lesson that every road belongs to the people," said Nattawut Saikua, one of the protest leaders.

The demonstrators, mostly rural farmers from impoverished provincial areas who have characterized their movement as a class war against the Bangkok elite, have sworn not to let up their pressure until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva steps down and calls new elections.

Abhisit has offered to call elections by year's end, but the protesters, also known as the Red Shirts, want quicker action.

The movementcontends that Abhisit came to power illegitimately in the years after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was removed in a 2006 coupamid corruption allegations.

The group is made up largely of Thaksin supporters and pro-democracy activists who opposed the putsch. The years since the coup have seen increasing political turmoil that has divided Thai society.

Protesters will fan out

Jatuporn Prompan, another protest leader, said demonstrators would maintain bases within both Bangkok's commercial heart and the separate historic quarter of the city where they began to encamp March 12 and also branch out to other locations.

Another protest leader, Kwanchai Praipana, led at least 10,000 followers to the Election Commission on Monday and after a tense confrontation, with the Red Shirts pressing up against the building, he met with the commissioners. Buteveryone left after a compromise was reached.

The commission agreed to rule onan allegation against Abhisit's Democrat Party on April 20 rather than the scheduled April 30.

Government opponents charged last year that the party received an$8-million USdonation from a Thai conglomerate well beyond the limit set for individuals or companies.

Over the weekend,protesters forced at least six upscale shopping malls to close andluxury hotelstobeef up security in Bangkok's downtown commercial district. Those establishments, as well asmany offices, remained closed Monday.