Thai gov't likely to declare state-of-emergency: gov't source

BANGKOK, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The government is likely to enforce a state-of-emergency decree Sunday to cope with the escalating tension in Bangkok after tens of thousands of provincial anti-government red-shirted protesters arrived in the city Saturday, The Nation online reported.

The report quoted an unidentified "senior government source" as saying Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is expected to hold an emergency cabinet meeting before the emergency decree is used.

Many demonstrators from the Northeast, North and other parts of the country arrived in Bangkok Saturday to join the "showdown" rally Sunday, with their number expected to swell to over 100,000 Sunday, said Tawil Pliensri, secretary-general of the National Security Council.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathering from across the country at the main rally stage on Rajdamnoen Avenue threatened to hold a mass march in Bangkok if Abhisit does not dissolve the House of Representatives by Sunday noon.

They prepared to lay siege to the Army's 11th Infantry Regiment on Phaholyothin, where the premier is temporarily billeted and manning a "war room".