Thai protesters vow prolonged rally to force elections

"It's different from the anti-Thaksin movement which was more disciplined with one clear direction and one arch nemesis."

Others doubt the protesters will get far without intervention by the military or the judiciary, both of which have helped to bring down Thaksin-allied governments. The military's top brass remain close allies of Abhisit.

Thaksin was ousted in a coup in 2006 and later sentenced in absentia to two years jail for graft. His allies were ousted by two court rulings in 2008 which disqualified two prime ministers, paving the way for Abhisit.

Thaksin now has Montenegrin citizenship and arrived there earlier this week, officials in the Balkan country said on Wednesday.

(Writing by Ambika Ahuja; Additional reporting by Viparat Jantraprapaweth; Editing by Jason Szep and Jerry Norton)