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BANGKOK: Anti-government protesters surrounded Thailand's parliament Wednesday, causing the session to be halted early after many lawmakers fled the building, officials said.
About 5,000 red-shirted demonstrators, many of whom support fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, massed outside parliament's gates as part of their rolling rallies aimed at forcing immediate elections.
Parliament president Chai Chidchob declared the lower house meeting closed shortly after 11 am (0400 GMT) because of the low number of lawmakers present.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had already left the building after attending a cabinet meeting there, officials said.
The cabinet extended a tough security law Wednesday as protesters refused to leave Bangkok's main commercial district for a fifth day and vowed to march to the prime minister's house.
The demonstrators are mostly from Thailand's poor and working class and see Abhisit's government as elitist and undemocratic.
Government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the authorities were ready to use emergency law if needed.
"If the situation deteriorates, it's necessary for the government to invoke emergency rule," he said.
- AFP/yb
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