HIGH SECURITY, HEAVY RAIN FAIL TO DETER 20,000 REDS

       UPDATE Heavy rain and a high security alert didn't hold back the 20,000-strong red shirt rally at the Royal Plaza on Saturday. Icon Thaksin Shinawatra told them Thailand is in danger of being a failed state.
       A masked protester lends more colour to the red shirts' protest on Saturday.
       Three years after he was ousted in the bloodless Sept 19, 2006, coup, Thaksin told the crowd via a live video link that the country was on a downward spiral but he could fix it.
       "Our country has deteriorated and risks being a failed state," he said. "Our country has slid backwards. There is no justice in society.

       "The longer this government stays, the bigger the disaster is for the country. Give me just six months as prime minister, and I will bring this country back to normal," he told his supporters.
       "I plead for national reconciliation. I have already forgiven everybody, let's start anew and decide in new elections."
       The widespread downpour early in the day disrupted the rally schedule and the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protest did not gather any steam until early evening.
       Many UDD supporters wearing ponchos or carrying umbrellas made their way in ankle-deep water past the rally stage.
       The crowd slowly came together amid heavy security that included 6,000 police and army officers. The government had invoked the internal security law in Dusit district where the rally was held.
       Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban had vowed that emergency rule may be imposed if the situation gets out of hand.
       Emergency rule would give the military a dominant role over the police in straightening out civil disorder.
       Roads around the rally site were closed to traffic with roadside checkpoints common yesterday.
       Closed were the Uthong Nai, Benchamabophit and Missakawan intersections adjacent to the Royal Plaza.
       Mr Suthep had a meeting with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, army chief-of-staff Prayuth Chan-ocha and First Army chief Khanit Sapitak to monitor the red shirts' movement.
       Earlier in the day the UDD aborted its planned march to the residence of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda. Gen Prem has denied the UDD's allegation that he was behind the 2006 coup which ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power.
       Army chief Anupong Paojinda, meanwhile, said bomb attacks were being planned in Bangkok. He cited information received from the army's intelligence unit.
       He said he had informed Mr Suthep about the bomb plots and ordered security forces to begin inspecting public areas suspected to be the target.
       "Security forces are spread out in all suspected areas. We want everyone to be careful," he said.
       The military and police forces maintaining security in the capital city were unarmed. They would also follow standard procedures in maintaining peace and order, he said.
       Meanwhile, in Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday, about 4,000 red shirts picketed outside the army camp in Muang district where Gen Prem was thought to have been staying.