Candidates told traders the country was being jeopardised by a dictatorial government and added that if people voted for People Power, they would not get dictators but former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

But they fled the scene after hearing explosions, which turned out to be firecrackers, as traders and motorcycle taxi drivers shouted at them.

Vendors said they were annoyed because the candidates were attacking other parties.

"Do they know they are the cause of the rift in the country? They should change the way they rally by stopping mudslinging and campaigning more constructively,'' a vendor said.