BANGKOK, March 19 (UPI) -- More than 1,000 Buddhist monks were planning a show of solidarity with Thailand's red shirt protesters, the Buddhist Monk Network for Unity said Friday.
A spokesman said the monks planned to go to an open field facing the Grand Palace Friday night to act as a shield for members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or UDD, the Bangkok Post reports.
The UDD has scheduled a motor rally around Bangkok Saturday to press its call for parliamentary elections.
"The monks are here to ask all sides not to use violence," said Sathien Wipromha, lay coordinator for the monk network.
He said the monks will remain in Bangkok until there is an announcement that the government is dissolving parliament.
Prime Minister Abhist Vejjajiva reiterated Friday that he is ready for direct talks with leaders of the red shirts on the condition that the Saturday rally is peaceful.
