In Thailand, tens of thousands of protesters continued their campaign to force the resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In Banghkok, a crowd of over 70,000 students, union workers, teachers and activists blockaded the Prime Minister’s offices. Thaksin vowed to impose emergency rule if the protests turned violence. But in a blow to his authority, military leaders distanced themselves from his warnings and indicated they would not enforce the emergency measures. Thaksin, a billionaire re-elected in a landslide victory last year, has faced growing criticism following the January sale of a telecom company that reaped his family a nearly $2 billion dollar, tax-free windfall.