Thailand's red-shirt protesters converge on TV station

The red-shirt protesters have been camped out in Bangkok for nearly a month and have vowed 1 to defy the emergency laws with more rallies.

Arrests warrants have been issued for several of the protest（抗议） leaders.

Tens of thousands of protesters, who had been based in Bangkok's commercial district, had planned to march to 10 undisclosed locations in the city on Friday.

But following Thursday's closure of the People Channel - a key tool for coordinating（协调的） their efforts - they said they would all converge（集中,聚合） on the Thaicom satellite station north of the capital.

"We're all moving in one direction. We're going to bring back our People Channel," said protest leader Nattawut Saikua.

"We are marching now to ask them why they closed down People Channel and what rights they have to shut out our eyes and ears.

"We march to ask for the rights of our people. We will march to free ourselves from the military-rule state, bring our rights and freedom back."

'Decisive'

The red-shirts want Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and call elections, saying his government is illegitimate.

 COLOUR-CODED PROTESTS

Many rural dwellers 2 and urban poor support red-shirts, while yellow-shirts comprise mainly middle classes and urban elite 3

In September 2008 yellows rally against government, reds counter-rally, clashes in Bangkok

Yellows blockade airport in November 2008, government collapses 4, yellow-friendly government installed

In April 2009 red protests halt Asean summit, two people die in Bangkok clashes, rallies called off

Reds relaunch protests in March 2010, splash blood on government buildings, march on parliament

Reds and yellows

Q&A: Thailand protests 

Several anti-government websites were also shut down on Thursday, but the red-shirt leaders still appear able to spread their message, says the BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok.

Thousands of reinforcements are reported to have joined the rallies on Friday - they were stopped and searched at checkpoints but not prevented from entering the capital, says our correspondent.

The state of emergency gives sweeping 5 powers to the security forces and in theory bans public gatherings 6 of more than five people.

The government has not shown any sign that it intends to use force against the protesters.

But at a new conference(会议,协商) on Friday, an army spokesman said security forces would "decisively enforce the law".

"It's crucial for the military and police to bring the situation under control," said Sunsern Kaewkumnerd.

Mr Abhisit has said the government wants to restore "peace and happiness" and that it is "the manipulation of information that is creating hate".

"We have to some extent stopped the spread of this kind of information," he said of the media closures.

The authorities issued arrests warrants on Thursday for seven protest leaders thought to have been involved in the storming of parliament the day before, causing MPs to flee.

The escalating 7 unrest has caused Mr Abhisit to cancel plans to attend a summit of regional leaders in Vietnam. （本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）