Thai protesters defy order to leave PM's compound

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It also proclaims itself to be a defender of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej against a supposed Thaksin plan to turn Thailand into a republic - a charge vehemently denied by both Thaksin and the government.

The standoff had little impact on financial markets, with the Thai stock market rising 1 percent on Thursday morning in thin volume, while the baht was flat.

The stock market has fallen 23 percent since the street campaign began in May amid fears of everything from policy paralysis at a time of stuttering economic growth to bloodshed on the streets.

The crowd at Government House had swollen to as many as 40,000 people during the night, including large numbers of middle-aged women. Rotting garbage littered the grounds and clothing hung from window ledges.

Hastily erected barricades of car tyres, razor wire and steel crash barriers remained on roads leading to the compound.

Dozens of police trucks were parked on streets nearby and police doctors and ambulances were on standby at police headquarters, a Reuters witness said.

Civil Court officials are due to deliver a court order telling the PAD leaders to move out of the compound and open up the surrounding streets, but the PAD said it would launch an appeal in a higher court.

(Writing by Nopporn Wong-Anan; Editing by Darren Schuettler)

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