BANGKOK - A total of 11 companies (1,650 policemen) of metropolitan police will be deployed to ensure peace and order during the rally by the antigovernment "red-shirt" movement on Saturday, a police commander said on Thursday.

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"Five companies of police will be dispatched to maintain peace at the Ratchaprasong intersection and nearby areas. Meanwhile, another six companies will be deployed at the Democracy monument and the Supreme Court near Sanam Luang," said Pol Maj-Gen Kririn Inkaew, deputy commander of metropolitan police, the English website Bangkok Post reported.

Police expected about 30,000 "red-shirts" would turn out on Saturday.

He called on the "red-shirt" protesters to rally peacefully and to keep a close watch on any third party that may possibly take the opportunity to incite violence.

Leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), alias "red-shirts", said the group will gather at the Ratchaprasong intersection from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

After that the "red-shirts" will march to the Supreme Court building compound at Sanam Luang to read out letters of the UDD leaders detained at the Bangkok Remand prison.

Through the letters, detained UDD leaders will complain about the double legal standards being used against them and other "red- shirts" being held on charges of terrorism.

After reading out the letters, the "red-shirts" will lay flowers at the court and then move to the Democracy monument to open the rally stage there.

The UDD leaders did not say at what time the "red-shirts" will disperse.

On the 10th and 19th of every month, the "red-shirt" supporters will organize political activities to commemorate the days that the protesters were disbanded by security forces on April 10 and May 19. After the prolonged protest against the government which had carried on from March to May last year, about 19 "red-shirt" leaders were charged with terrorism and detained in several prisons.  

The three-month demonstration left 91 dead and almost 2,000 injured in clashes between protesters and troops, let alone deep division in Thai society.