BANGKOK - HUNDREDS of anti-government protesters began leaving Bangkok's main airport in cars, taxis and buses on Wednesday after ending a crippling eight-day blockade, an AFP correspondent said.

Vehicles packed high with demonstrators' belongings began streaming out of Suvarnabhumi shortly after the 10am (11 am Singapore time) time set by leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy for the end of the protest.

The airport authority said the first international flights from the three-billion-dollar airport would resume on Thursday.

'I am looking forward to sleeping in my home, but everybody came here because they love the king,' said Mr Neepirom Kunniam, 58, wearing the movement's trademark yellow clothes, which symbolise devotion to the Thai monarchy.

Thai airport authorities did not say on Wednesday when they will reopen Suvarnabhumi or the smaller Don Mueang domestic airport, although they have earlier said it could happen within a day or two.

The closures have left around 350,000 travellers stranded in Thailand, with foreign nations scrambling to send emergency flights to a military airbase southeast of Bangkok and to Thai provincial airports.

A line of hundreds of protesters snaked through the departures area of the three-billion-dollar air hub early on Wednesday, as they got PAD founder Sondhi

Mr Limthongkul and senior leader Chamlong Srimruang to sign pieces of paper.

Others listened to speeches and music from a huge stage set up in the airport's taxi drop-off area, while most were rolling up sleeping bags and collecting their possessions.

Former ruling party members have vowed to form another government under a new banner after the toppling of Somchai, who was barred from politics for five years by the Constitutional Court in a vote fraud case.

Protesters accused Somchai's administration of acting as a proxy for exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006, and of being hostile to the monarchy.

The PAD are backed by the Bangkok business elite and middle classes, along with elements in the military and the palace.

'In next two weeks I think we will come again,' said protester Pas Apinantpreeda.

'We have got a reason to leave, in the next two days we have the king's birthday and we don't want any problems for him. But I think the ruling party will collaborate to make a new government, we cannot accept that,' he said.

The PAD's protests led to the coup which toppled Thaksin and they took to the streets again in May this year. Somchai's predecessor, Samak Sundaravej, was forced out in September for receiving payment for a TV cooking show.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is revered as semi-divine by Thais, celebrates his birthday on Friday and is due to make a speech a day earlier.

Analysts said the developments would bring a brief respite until the remnants of the government tried to name a new premier in parliament, probably on December 8, but it would not solve the kingdom's underlying problems.

The PPP said it was ready to move lawmakers into a shell party called Pheu Thai (For Thais) and continue administering the country, spokesman Kudeb

Mr Saikrajang said, while the other coalition parties have vowed to back them. -- AFP