Red shirts to extend protest

Thailand's anti-government protesters have called for a "historic rally" this weekend to paralyze Bangkok. The move comes after planned talks between protesters and the government were cancelled because the red shirts insisted they wanted to meet Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva himself, not a representative.

Tens of thousands of protesters remained on the streets near Bangkok's tourist district Monday, calling for the Prime Minister to dissolve parliament.

A red-shirt protestor said, "Now I only want the Parliament to be dissolved because what the government's done so far is not accepted by the people."

Abhisit flew out of Bangkok Monday to a northeastern province which has been badly hit by drought.

Supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra shout  slogans as they parade during an anti-government protest in  Bangkok. Thailand's red-shirted protesters vowed to "shut down"  Bangkok with an anti-government rally Saturday, defying the  government which had raised the stakes with new security  measures.(AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)