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Prasobsook said he felt the government's use of force against the red-shirt protesters was excessive.

"Do not use full-scale force. We must limit the violence. The crackdown on protesters yesterday resulted in many injuries. It was not good using tear gas and shooting into the sky, because it scared people,'' he said. He added that he wanted all clashes to stop. If things cannot be resolved, the government has no option but to dissolve the House or have the PM step down, he said.

Maha Sarakham Senator Prawat Thongsomboon said many senators disapproved of the government's use of force because they believed this would only aggravate the situation.

He suggested that the government either step down or dissolve the House for the sake of the country. "This will give power back to the people and prevent more casualties,'' he said.

He said it might be too late to call for a vote on the matter because Parliament would only reconvene on April 20 at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai leaders, including opposition chief whip Withaya Buranasiri and Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, held a press conference and issued the following demands:

- The government stop using force against the people;

- A joint parliamentary meeting be convened immediately to find a way out of the country's deepening division;

- The Pheu Thai Party would mobilise more protesters should the first two demands be ignored;

- The media must cover the situation from a neutral standpoint, as biased reports can be dangerous. The muzzling of information will not be tolerated because the public should be allowed to get both sides of the story;

- Thais, no matter which side they support, should resolve differences peacefully.