The "red shirt" supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra remained defiant in their makeshift encampment in the capital after skirmishes with Thai troops on April 28 on a busy highway in Bangkok's northern suburb wounded 19 people.

"We are ready for them to come to get us. Let's see how many of us they have to kill to satisfy them," said Saman Chantikul, a 50-year-old fruit seller who was among thousands occupying Bangkok's upscale shopping district for nearly a month.

"We are not going anywhere until this government listens to us."

Seven weeks of increasingly violent protests and their economic toll on Southeast Asia's second-largest economy are piling more pressure on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to end the crisis that has killed 27 people and paralyzed Bangkok.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said troops at checkpoints on roads leading into the area would stop people bringing in weapons and might discourage more from going in.

But red shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn said he expected more protesters to join the mostly rural and urban poor movement seeking to throw the government out. "We believe victory is near," he said to loud cheers from thousands in their encampment behind medieval-like barricades made of tires, bamboo poles and chunks of concrete.