Thailand's senate has began debating a hotly-contested political amnesty bill as an estimated 15,000 anti-government protesters gathered in Bangkok.
The senate was due to vote on the bill on Monday. If, as expected, it rejects the legislation it is likely to embolden a range of anti-government forces who have massed on Bangkok's streets for nearly a fortnight.
Critics say the bill has been crafted to pave the way for a return of the polarising ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is the current Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's brother.
"This bill violates the rule of law. All laws must be equal for everyone," said Senator Manoj Kraiwong, echoing the views of several speakers in the televised debate.