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Saturday February 11, 9:17 PM Thousands urge Thai PM to quit as he vows referendum Photo: Reuters Click to enlarge BANGKOK (Reuters) - At least 10,000 Thai protesters rallied in central Bangkok on Saturday demanding Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra resign, as he offered to hold a referendum on amending the country's constitution to appease his opponents. Demonstrators marched into the Royal Plaza, a block from Thaksin's Government House and not far from King Bhumibol Adulyadej's palace, defying a police ban on using it as the rally venue. "Thaksin, get out," demonstrators in yellow t-shirts chanted, waving national and royal flags as riot police looked on. Police did not try to break up the rally but issued tickets for cars and trucks illegally parked in the area and said they would impose fines on anyone who illegally used loudspeakers. The demonstration followed an anti-government rally of 40,000 people last weekend, the largest for 14 years, and attracted protesters ranging from state workers opposed to privatisation to urban professionals. Thaksin said on Saturday he would consult electoral officials on holding a referendum asking voters if they wanted the 1997 "People's Constitution" amended. The referendum could be held at the same time as elections for the Senate on April 19, he said. "Many of those who call for amendments to the charter were once its staunch supporters. They say it gives the government too much power. If they say so, I will let everyone decide," he said. "If a majority of people say they want the change, then we will discuss how," he said in his weekly radio address. POPULARITY WANES Some analysts described the referendum offer as a delaying tactic to mollify detractors. The prime minister, who won a second landslide election victory a year ago, has seen his popularity wane swiftly among the middle classes since his family's tax-free sale last month of Shin Corp, the telecoms empire he founded, to Singapore state investment company Temasek. The campaign to oust Thaksin was launched by friend-turned-foe Sondhi Limthongkul, whose talk show was taken off state television in September for criticising the government. A new anti-Thaksin alliance -- a coalition of groups called the People's Network for Democracy -- says it will campaign to make the constitution more democratic, nullify the Shin deal and impeach Thaksin on charges of concealing assets illegally. Analysts say Thaksin's support in the countryside -- where 70 percent of Thais live -- is still solid, and the prime minister has dismissed his opponents as a "few worthless people". The prime minister urged restraint before Saturday's rally, asking Thaksin supporters who were also expected to show up to stay away, to avoid clashes with anti-government protesters. "I don't want to see any conflict in this society where one side comes to support and the other comes to dismiss. It will create social rifts," he said. Suriyasai Katasila, a spokesman for the anti-Thaksin alliance, said Thaksin's offer of a referendum was too late. "How can people join a leader who never showed his willingness to reform politics and only ran the country for his cronies?" Suriyasai said to Reuters by telephone as he led hundreds of protesters to the plaza. Thaksin insists the Shin share sale was legal and that he and his family have done nothing wrong. (Additional reporting and writing by Nopporn Wong-Anan)