Thai PM vows to bring opposition under control

Embattled Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva continues to rebuff demands that he step down and hold new elections. He said that red shirt protestors must be brought under control.

Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said, "If we allow those who use violence, to force political change, we will have a lawless country. The priority of the government is to deal with this group of illegally armed men. At the same time we will do our duty to respond to legitimate demands from the protesters."

Tensions are building in the Thai capital as troops armed with machine guns rushed to Bangkok's business district. Security forces are trying to prevent thousands of anti-government protesters from marching to a bank linked to a royal adviser, raising fears of fresh violence. The army said soldiers could use force to stop red-shirted supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Hundreds of troops converged in the Silom Road area before dawn, erecting barbed wire around the headquarters of the Bangkok Bank, Thailand's largest, making it a lucrative target for red shirt protestors.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gives a news conference at the Thai Army 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok April 19, 2010.