Thai gov't on alert ahead of rally

Coordinated rallies by anti-government protestors will be held across Thailand this weekend. The government has begun mobilizing 50 thousand security personnel ahead of the protests.

Supporters of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, known as "the Red Shirts", will stage rallies across the country on Friday, before converging on central Bangkok on Sunday.

They plan to continue the demonstrations for at least seven days. They have vowed to bring the capital to a standstill if a new election is not called.

Soldiers guard near the Government House in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, March 11, 2010. The Internal Security Act has been put into effect from Thursday to March 23 to ensure peace and order during a mass anti- government rally by the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship on this weekend. (Xinhua/Thana Nuntavoranut)