Business chief backs tough stance

"The government must immediately solve the turbulence so it has less of an impact on the country and people's lives," Pramon said, adding that House dissolution or having the PM step down may not be the solution.

"The Board of Trade, the Federation of Thai Industries [FTI] and the Thai Bankers Association will call an urgent meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday to estimate the damage and come up with suggestions for the government to use," he said.

"Hopefully, the turmoil will be over in a day or two and have a minimum impact on the economy," FTI chairman Santi Villasakdanont said.

The organisations will also meet on Thursday - if the situation is under control by then - to come up with ways to rebuild tourism and investors' confidence in Thailand, Santi said.

Phongsak Assakul, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the PM should not resign or dissolve Parliament as it would not have a beneficial outcome.

Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's Economic and Business Forecasting Centre, said the chaos would cause losses of more than Bt100 billion, mainly in tourism.