Anti-government protesters resumed marches in Bangkok on Friday (December 20), trying to energise supporters in the centre of the Thai capital before a planned mass rally at the weekend to put pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.

Yingluck called a snap election last week when the protests reached their height. She remains caretaker premier until the February 2 vote but has refused to push back the date to allow the drawing-up of political reforms demanded by the protesters.

About 160,000 protesters surrounded Yingluck's office on December 9 but momentum has waned since then.

The National Security Council said there were about 3,000 people at Friday's march, about half the size of the crowd when the latest round of protest marches kicked off on Thursday (December 19). The crowd grew bigger during the lunch hour as many office workers take a break to join the demonstrations before going back to work.

Sunday's (December 22) rally is expected to draw huge numbers.

Democrat lawmakers resigned from parliament this month to march with protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who was deputy prime minister in a Democrat-led government until 2011.

Some agree with his call for reforms to be implemented before another election is held, but others believe their party, Thailand's oldest, should respect the democratic process and run for office. The party's decision is due on Saturday (December 21).

Presented by Adam Justice

Thailand