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BANGKOK, March 29, 2009 (AFP) - Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva Sunday accused fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra of stoking unrest for personal gain as protesters surrounded the seat of government for a fourth day.
Thousands of demonstrators loyal to the exiled Thaksin have been camped out at Government House in Bangkok since Thursday, listening to fiery video addresses by their billionaire leader.
Thaksin urged his supporters late Saturday to 'rise up' against the government, while a day earlier he accused two of the revered king's advisers of masterminding the 2006 coup that toppled him.
'He is trying to arouse people in an effort to gain benefit for himself,' the British-born Abhisit told reporters.
Abhisit said that while protests were allowed by law, the demonstrators 'should not make more trouble for people who are already suffering from economic turmoil.'
Some 1,500 people kept up the vigil at Government House for the fourth day Sunday.
In his recent speeches, Thaksin has also called for Abhisit, the leader of the ruling Democrat Party, to dissolve the government and call fresh elections.
He further hit out at Abhisit's policies for lifting Thailand out of a slump caused by the effects of the global financial crisis on the kingdom's export-dependent economy.
'The government is still focussed on working, we are confident we can carry on working,' said Abhisit.
Thaksin loyalists have held several similar protests since Abhisit rose to power in December, following a controversial court decision to dissolve the previous administration which was led by Thaksin's brother-in-law.
They accuse Abhisit of being a stooge of Thailand's powerful army and demand the prosecution of people behind a siege of Bangkok's airports late last year which helped to hasten the fall of the last administration.
Abhisit meanwhile defended two of the king's advisers - ex-premiers General Prem Tinsulanonda and General Surayud Chulanont - against Thaksin's accusations that they were responsible for the coup against him.
'A protest for political demands should be related to politics, there is no reason to mention the privy council,' he said, referring to King Bhumibol Adulyadej's advisors.
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