BANGKOK - THOUSANDS of supporters of Thailand's ruling coalition gathered on Saturday on the outskirts of Bangkok in a show of strength, two days ahead of a planned major protest by a group hoping to topple the elected government.

The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship is the rival of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, which has occupied the grounds of the prime minister's office since Aug 26.

'We gathered today to show that the majority of this country objects to these rebels trampling on Thailand's democracy,' said Mr Veera Musigapong, one of the leaders of the United Front. 'We want to show that they are destroying the country in the name of the Thai public.'

Mr Veera was a deputy leader of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's party.

The People's Alliance is demanding the resignation of all leaders linked to Thaksin, a former telecommunications billionaire who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and misuse of power.

Current Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

The United Front plans to continue its rally until Tuesday at a field less than a mile (about a kilometre) from the prime minister's office occupied by the People's Alliance, but Mr Veera said the group would not march in the streets.

In September, members of the pro-government group clashed with their rivals while marching in Bangkok, and one of its members was beaten to death.

The political conflict turned violent again last Tuesday, when anti-government protesters attempted to blockade Parliament to keep Prime Minister Somchai from delivering a policy statement.

Police used tear gas to clear the streets, sparkling a series of clashes that injured 478 people - mostly protesters - including 85 who were hospitalized, according to medical authorities. Three people were killed.

The protest alliance says it plans a large demonstration on Monday outside police headquarters to protest alleged police brutality in last Tuesday's clashes.

The alliance has been pressuring the army to intervene in politics again. Army Commander Gen Anupong Paochinda has publicly said the government should 'take responsibility' for Tuesday's casualties, but has also vowed not to stage a coup.

His unwillingness to openly rebel has earned him the wrath of the protest alliance, which in recent days has denounced him sharply.

Mr Somchai's People's Power Party also faces a legal challenge. The Office of the Attorney General on Friday forwarded a case to the Constitutional Court that charges the party's former deputy leader with election fraud.

A court affirmation of the fraud could lead to the party being disbanded, and Somchai's administration being forced to step down. -- AP