While populist policies, while prime minister led to support from the rural poor, Bangkok's middle class and urban elite accused him of corruption and abuse of power.

VOA: standard.2010.04.03

But the urban middle class accused Mr.Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power while he was in office, especially by his government's attacks on the media and his perceived efforts to control most levers of power including the parliament, independent government agencies and security forces.

VOA: standard.2010.03.20