Thailand Protest: Red-shirts gathering in Thai capital

Thousands of red-shirted, anti-government demonstrators are gathering in the Thai capital. They're vowing to oust the government in a mass display of muscle.

The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or the Red Shirts, are opposing the 2006 military coup. They're calling for a new election.

Kwanrutai Burana, Thai Demonstrator, said, "I want this government to give justice to the Red Shirts. We want democracy back. This government is illegitimate because it was never elected."

Supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra attend a  rally at the Wong Wian Yai in Bangkok March 12, 2010. Supporters  of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra plan a mass rally this weekend  in a bid to force new elections, the latest flashpoint in the  five-year political crisis.REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

Several thousand protesters started gathering peacefully in Bangkok from Friday.

Although protest leaders stress they will not resort to violence, many businesses have closed down, social events have been cancelled and Bangkok's usual traffic gridlock is quieter.

The government has set up roadblocks at all main access points to the capital, and has been stopping and searching cars for weapons.

50,000 soldiers, police and other security are being mobilized in the Bangkok area.

The "million-man march" is to climax on Sunday.

The Red Shirts say they hope to gather 600 thousand people together Sunday.