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Bangkok: The Thai Army chief on Tuesday said force would not be used against protesters occupying the prime minister’s official compound in Bangkok.
"If we thought we could use police and soldiers to get them out with a peaceful conclusion, we would do it. But we think that that would create more problems," said Army commander Anupong Paochinda.
The government has also declared a state of emergency and deployed soldiers in Bangkok to prevent clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters that have already left at least one man dead and dozens injured.
Under the emergency powers announced by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, public gatherings, the occupation of government buildings and inflammatory new reports are banned.
But with the army reluctant to enforce the decree, Anupong said his soldiers would be unarmed and only act as a buffer between the protest groups.
Anupong dismissed speculation of a coup, saying that said another coup would solve nothing.
"The door to use force is closed. We must find a solution through the legal and parliamentary systems," he said.
Samak, meanwhile, faced a new threat on Tuesday when the Election Commission recommended his ruling People Power Party be disbanded for vote buying in December's election.
At Government House, leaders of the protest movement that has occupied Samak's official compound for the past week vowed to stay behind their barricades.
Some schools and shops were shut in Bangkok but traffic flowed, with no major security presence or tanks in the streets.
The airport, the main gateway for millions of tourists visiting one of Asia's top holiday destinations, remained open.
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