Thai ex-PM's fortunes boosted by electoral results

"But this may change in the next two to three months as the protest movement gains momentum and people become more frustrated with the government's management of the economy," he said.

Thaksin's autocratic leanings and alleged corruption while in power from 2001-2006 drew resentment from the Bangkok elite, the military and people associated with the monarchy. Those forces tried to erase Thaksin's legacy, dissolving his political party, changing the constitution and opening criminal investigations against him.

But he has retained widespread popularity among rural people and the urban poor, who benefited from his populist social welfare policies.

In December 2007, his political allies - reassembled as the People's Power Party - topped the polls in a new election.

But court rulings and demonstrations throughout 2008 - including the seizure of the seat of government for several months and the occupation of Bangkok's two airports - by the same protesters who called for Thaksin's ouster in 2006 forced out two People's Power Party prime ministers and gave Abhisit's Democrats the chance to form a new coalition government.

Thaksin's supporters, allied with pro-democracy groups, responded by taking to the streets themselves earlier this year, seeking to oust Abhisit for allegedly coming to power illegitimately. Those demonstrations were put down by the military when they turned violent in April.

Thaksin has supported the offensive on his behalf by rallying his fans with video and telephone call-ins, and allegedly financing both the political and popular movements on his behalf.

Those gathered at Saturday's rally heard Thaksin call for the government to "return justice and true democracy."

Playing to the sympathetic crowd, he also complained that he was lonely and serenaded the crowd with a song that included the line "Don't leave me in Dubai" - a reference to one of the cities he has called home since fleeing into exile.

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