Thailand PM declares state of emergency in Bangkok

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok amid escalating anti-government protests.

In a televised address, Mr Abhisit said the move - which gives sweeping new powers to the security forces to tackle protesters - would help restore order.

It comes hours after thousands of "red-shirt" protesters marched on parliament - forcing MPs to flee the building.

The protesters want Mr Abhisit to resign and call elections.

Thailand has lurched from one crisis to another since 2006 when the government of Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown.

This is the fourth state of emergency in the capital since 2008.

'Stay put'

The current bout of red-shirt rallies began on 12 March.

The government had vowed not to use force against the red-shirts, and the protesters too had said their demonstrations would not be violent.

But Mr Abhisit said in his televised address that the protesters could no longer be considered peaceful after their march on parliament.

"Our goal is to restore normalcy," he said.

"We need to plan and implement everything to the last detail and with thorough care. The last thing we want is for the situation to spiral out of control."

Mr Abhisit said the state of emergency applied in the capital and surrounding areas, but it is not yet clear how the authorities will implement the new laws, the BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says.

Emergency law gives sweeping powers to the security forces and in theory bans public gatherings of more than five people, our correspondent says.

But tens of thousands of anti government protesters remain in the commercial heart of Bangkok and show no signs of moving voluntarily.

They regard Mr Abhisit's government as illegitimate as it was brought to power with military support.

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