PHUKET: Increasing agitation revived the yellow-shirt movement on Phuket last night - just hours after a blockade by activists from the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy prevented a controversial piece of legislation from being introduced to Parliament in Bangkok.

Former Democrat Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban greeted protesters outside Parliament yesterday afternoon before flying to Phuket to speak to a rally of 2000 supporters at a park in Phuket City last night.

With him were other Democrat leaders, including Phuket MPs Anchalee Thepabutr and Raewat Raewat Areerob.

The message they were delivering between the lines is plain: Thailand is entering a period when the potential for a clash of yellow and red philosophies is rising.

However, last night's speakers recognised that the heat is only turned to ''medium simmer'' at present as the yellow side revives its political presence on the streets after two years of relative calm.

The campaign to declare ''red villages'' around Thailand and the bid to pass legislation that would make it easier for fugitive Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand have rekindled yellow opposition.

By Thai standards, even the blockading of Parliament is not seen as a serious confrontation. More agitation is expected in Bangkok next week.

Three busloads of PAD supporters travelled from Phuket to Bangkok this week but most of them had returned to Phuket before yesterday's Bangkok blockade.

The yellow rallies move from Phuket to Songkhla next and the rallies and agitation are expected to see many more yellow supporters bussed to Bangkok from Phuket and other southern yellow strongholds from next Tuesday.

Red shirt leaders have urged their supporters to stay at home and not to respond to yellow-shirt attempts to bury the ''reconciliation'' bills.

Their concern is that the Army would probably interpret any clash as a failure of government and intervene.

Yesterday's blockade of Parliament was covered extensively around the world.