A leading figure in the anti- Thaksin coalition announced Friday that demonstrations demanding the ouster of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would continue until the king appointed an interim prime minister replacing him.

Major General Chamlong Srimuang, co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), told media that the protests would go on without suspense until the big rally scheduled on April 7, the Thai News Agency reported.

Earlier, the anti-Thaksin coalition announced that the campaign demanding resignation of the premier would be suspended until Sunday's general election.

The former mentor-turned-arch critic predicted that the political crisis would deepen after the April 2 poll, which is being boycotted by all three main opposition parties, since it would inevitably lead to one-party rule and social confrontation.

He reaffirmed that the PAD would remain committed to securing Thaksin's resignation, and to petition for a royally-bestowed interim prime minister.

On Friday morning, members of the PAD and Dharma Army went on with their protest vigil outside the Government House. The marathon rally has lasted 29 days since its beginning on Feb. 26.

On Thursday, Democrat Party leaders were attacked and pelted with chairs in a planned rally site in the northern Chiang Mai province, a stronghold of pro-Thaksin forces. The rally was forced to cut short.

Source: Xinhua