A supporter of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra attends an anti-junta rally at Sanam Luang last night.

Junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin yesterday ignored the demand of 10,000 protesters on Saturday night to quit, saying he had done no wrong.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, meanwhile, believes it is not necessary to impose a state of emergency despite the anti-coup protests starting to grow more heated.

Sonthi rejected the quit demand from the protesters who are being led by former Thai Rak Thai executives and other activists.

He vowed to stay on as chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS). He said he was working in the interests of the country, not his own or those of others.

"And I doubt the motives of these people who are organising the rallies," Sonthi said in a rebuke of the march on Saturday evening from Sanam Luang to Army headquarters on Rajdamnoen Avenue.

Former Thai Rak Thai Party figure Veera Musigapong, activist Weng Tojirakan, former judge Manit Jitjankab, community radio hosts Chinawat Haboonpad and Chupong Teetuan and Prateep Ungsong-tham led the demonstration.

Despite the number of demonstrators, Sonthi did not view the situation as serious or see a need to impose a state of emergency.

His belief was echoed by Prime Minister Surayud, according to his secretary general General Pongthep Thetprateep.

"The PM is following the situation closely. No one wants to impose a state of emergency. It is the last resort. If they do not listen and assault officials and destroy things then it may be necessary. There is a better way out right now," Pongthep said yesterday.

More than 1,350 security officials were deployed to control the protestors.

He said there had been talks with the protest leaders after they issued an ultimatum that the CNS resign within seven days and allow Thaksin Shinawatra to return to power.

Pongthep said there was no violence but some protestors were pushing the barricade while security officials did their best to keep calm.

He said there had been talks with the protest leaders after they issued an ultimatum that the CNS resign within seven days and allow Thaksin Shinawatra to return to power.

Sonthi said he believed the demonstrations would subside when the country was told of the damage caused by the ousted government and the state of affairs that prompted the coup.

But Supreme Commander and CNS member General Boonsrang Niumpradit said the rally suggested a severe situation.

He said the protesters had incited the authorities to use force.

Boonsrang did not know if the rally would be on the agenda for the CNS's weekly meeting set for today. He was yet to talk with other council members about the demonstration or the measures to deal with future protests.

Boonsrang said he was worried that future events could turn violent.

Campaign for Popular Democracy secretary general Suriyasai Katasila warned the country may face another coup if Thaksin's supporters clash with the middle-class groups who oppose the ousted prime minister.

He said the People's Alliance for Democracy agreed to stand back and not organise any protests so the country could politically move forward. But he did not know whether other anti-Thaksin groups would take to the streets and clash with Thaksin supporters.

"If this is the case, it may trigger another coup," he said.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said he would negotiate with the protest leaders not to move their groups out of Sanam Luang to keep peace and security in their next protests.

"It is hard to control the mobs if they move. It is also risky since ill-intentioned third parties might take advantage to trigger violence," Apirak said.

Third Army commander Lt-General Jiradej Khajarat, meanwhile, admonished former Thai Rak Thai MP Pornchai Atthapriyangkul for distributing copies of an open letter written by Thaksin to his supporters earlier this month.

Sonthi said he was unaware that Pojaman Shinawatra, the wife of former prime minister Thaksin, had sought the help of a well-known fortune teller to arrange a meeting with him.

He said he would consult the government before deciding whether to agree to a meeting.