Thailand's demonstrators trying to oust caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will end their rallies and settle for a compromise: banning him from next Sunday's general election.

Leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has been conducting street demonstrations calling for the resignation of the prime minister, said on Saturday that they have submitted evidence to the Election Commission which could cause him to be barred from the polls.

The Election Commission (EC) has promised PAD it will review the evidence and rule by next Friday, two days before the election for a 500-member Lower House, the Bangkok Post said on its website.

Suriyasai Katasila, the PAD coordinator, told journalists that the coalition had submitted a set of documents to the EC, which it believed could force Thaksin to resign and temporarily suspend his political roles.

The evidence includes a videotape, a copy of an article published in Matichon, a Thai-language newspaper, in its February 27 issue and a copy of a Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party speech delivered by Thaksin at a rally organized at Sanam Luang on March 3.

Suriyasai said the documents showed Thaksin's violation of Article 44 and 47 of the election law after he dissolved the House of Representatives on February 24 through abusing of his power and using the state authority to facilitate and in favor of his TRT Party's candidates, as well as giving cash rewards and promising favors in exchange of votes.

The coalition is also seeking more information against Thaksin from provincial officials regarding a government order to provide transport for local residents to join the TRT Party's rally on March 3, he revealed.

"We believe that the documents will become clear evidence for the EC to ban Thaksin from the April 2 snap election and to temporarily suspend his political role," he added.

Source: Xinhua