(APPO) on Friday began finalizing plans for a two-day demonstration that aims to hem in federal troops currently occupying the Oaxaca City Zócalo.

The APPO intends to conduct a meeting on Saturday followed by a march to the Zócalo where they want to effect a blockade of the Federal Preventative Police (PFP) troops stationed in the state capital.

A caravan of buses is reportedly en route to Oaxaca City from around the state as APPO members and sympathizers convene to take part in the self-styled "human blockade."

The blockade will encircle the downtown PFP encampment for two days with the idea of preventing any troops from entering or leaving the area for two days.

Earlier Friday, the PFP was reinforcing its encampment and troops were busy relocating within the Zócalo and the contiguous city blocks they occupy.

Government news agency Notimex reported that roughly 2,000 PFP officers broke down camps in outlying plazas and were repositioned in and around the Zócalo.

At least 10 PFP water cannon tanks were also moved closer to the central encampment.

PFP commanders said the troop movement was simply routine.

"We are just conducting routine rotations, to keep our troops fresh and ready and alert," said one commander who declined to give his name.

An APPO spokesman told the media that the weekend demonstration would be peaceful.

"We will march in columns to the PFP barricades and issue a call to the federal troops that they go home," said César Mateos. "APPO members will be on the front lines in an effort to prevent any troublemakers from causing problems, while sympathizers and supporters will be in rows behind us."

"We will take full responsibility for the demonstration on our side of the barricades," he said.