Protestors gather in Bangkok

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra attacked the government’s handling of the economy today and told thousands of cheering supporters not to abandon the fight for democracy in one of the largest demonstrations to hit the kingdom in months.

More than 30,000 supporters braved heavy rains in Bangkok to hear the media tycoon, who addressed the crowd via telephone link from what he said was an undisclosed location near the Thai border.