Samak and police officials have repeatedly said the 1,000 police officers at the site would not use force to evict the protesters. He and other government officials have encouraged demonstrators to leave voluntarily, even offering free bus trips back to their provinces.

Samak initially said he hoped the protesters would be out ahead of a ceremony Saturday for Thailand's royal family. But on Thursday he proposed moving the royal procession to another site.

"Police will use a softened stance to deal with the protesters," Police Lt. Gen. Suraphol Thuanthong. "We will give them time to leave the government house. But if they continue to defy the court order, then we have to use force to drive them out. I cannot set the precise time or deadline for this."

Alliance leaders said the group planned to appeal the court order to vacate the government compound, arguing they have a legal right to remain. Chamlong said he and other leaders were ready to be arrested, but encouraged supporters to stay on the grounds.

"If we get arrested, please don't follow us to the detention center," said Chamlong said. "You must remain here and continue fighting. If you leave the government house, that means we have been defeated."

Samak, who refused to resign, said Tuesday that the protesters were trying to provoke the military.

"They want bloodshed in the country. They want the military to come out and do the coup again," Samak said.

Conditions at the Government House grounds were deteriorating, with bags of trash piling up and protesters hanging laundry from buildings. With toilets in short supply, men relieved themselves in public.

Ambulances anticipating a clash parked outside the site alongside food vendors who earned some cash amid the chaos.

The alliance's best known leaders are Chamlong, an influential former politician and army officer, and Sondhi Limthongkul, a media mogul.

After Thaksin was deposed in the bloodless coup, his party was dissolved and he was banned from public office until 2012.

But Samak led Thaksin's political allies to a December 2007 election victory, and their assumption of power triggered fears that Thaksin would make a political comeback. He remains popular with the country's rural majority.

Thaksin has sought refuge in Britain, claiming he would not get a fair trial in Thailand.

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