Emergency declared

Meanwhile, rumours of a coup d'etat to topple the Somchai government and end the political stalemate were doing the rounds.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said in a TV address last night that the Air Force would help police in enforcing the law in the Don Mueang area, while the Navy would give help at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Pol Lt-General Suchart Muan-kaew, the Metropolitan police chief, will be responsible for dispersing protesters at Don Mueang Airport, while Pol Lt-General Chalong Sonjai, the first-region police chief, will be in charge of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Pol General Kowit Watana, the interior minister, will oversee the entire operation.

PM Somchai said the emergency rule to restore law and order was necessary as the airport siege had caused serious damage to the economy.

Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said the emergency rule was imposed in some selected areas only so the general public should not be affected.

On Tuesday, thousands of anti-government protesters took control of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Asia's fourth busiest gateway, in a bid to pressure Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down.

Protesters also laid siege to Don Mueang Airport, which provides some domestic services, on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the government of Samak Sundaravej had also declared a state of emergency in parts of Bangkok in a bid to disperse protesters from the compound of government House, but the move was ineffective.

According to Chalerm, the latest declaration of emergency, which gives more power to law-enforcement officials, is more specific than the previous one issued during the tenure of former premier Samak as it names the persons directly in charge of enforcing the law.

The public health minister said 30 emergency medical teams are on standby in the Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi areas to provide urgent services.

Chalerm added that the Cabinet meeting did not discuss any matter related to the sacking of Army chief General Anupong Paochinda, who had called on the premier to dissolve the House of Representatives and urged protesters to leave both airports.

Surayasai Katasila, a coordinator of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, said protesters had been told of the Cabinet decision on emergency rule and were ready to face the consequences.

Other protest leaders at government House quietly told their followers that "this may be our last night". With the leaders having always said the "war" would end in a couple of days, that can be interpreted as a positive statement.

But with the state of emergency imminent, the remark also sounded ominous.

Protesters at three rally grounds - Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and government House - were also advised to take off their yellow shirts and put on ones with different colours if they were to leave the areas.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Natthawut Saikua announced after yesterday's urgent Cabinet meeting that the government had no intention to remove Army chief Anupong.

Rumours were rife yesterday about a secret Anupong ultimatum to Somchai that he must dissolve the House before midnight or face a coup.

Newspaper offices have been flooded with phone calls inquiring or giving "tips" about an imminent coup. A source claimed Anupong had a telephone conversation with Somchai in the morning.

Government office workers were told to leave home early, as were many private sector employees, adding to the widespread anxiety.