Thai "red shirts" besiege anti-graft body

Thailand's National Anti- Corruption Commission (NACC) was besieged Wednesday by hundreds of pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship ( UDD) members, better known as "red shirts."

The "red shirts" locked up the gate of the NACC's office with chains to protest against the latter's charges against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for alleged dereliction of duty in the rice-pledging scheme.

Yingluck has been summoned to acknowledge the charges at the NACC on Thursday.

But as Yingluck on Wednesday embarked on a trip to northeast provinces of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, which is expected to last one week, it remains unsure whether she will be able to show up at the NACC on Thursday as required.

Earlier, UDD chair Tida Tawornseth announced their new plans to resume political activities and target the anti-government People' s Democratic Reform Committee, independent agencies, judicial system and any attempt to use the armed forces to stage a coup.

While in Chiang Rai inspecting government projects, Yingluck reportedly called on the "red shirts" to exercise restraint.

The government wishes to hold talks with protesters, rather than try to end the current political conflict by resorting to violence, she said.