At the root of the conflict between the People's Alliance for Democracy and the government lies Thaksin Shinawatra, a telecommunications billionaire and Thailand's controversial former prime minister.

A political outsider, he shattered the status quo, courting the rural poor in the north-east of the country and sweeping to election victory in 2001. He consolidated his power by offering his core constituency cheap healthcare and subsidised village funds, creating an all but unbeatable electoral machine while alienating the urban elites.

Mr Thaksin had an autocratic streak, and his opponents alleged that he used his office to enrich himself and his friends. Public discontent grew and eventually the military stepped in to remove him from office in September 2006. He went into exile in the UK and was barred from politics for five years, but when the military called elections at the end of last year his allies in the People Power party won a convincing victory.