 Mr Abhisit has ruled out an immediate dissolution of parliament |
Pressure is mounting on Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, days after 21 people died in clashes between troops and anti-government protesters.
The army chief says parliament should be dissolved, and election officials have ruled that Mr Abhisit's party can be charged over illegal donations. Mr Abhisit, widely perceived to have strong army backing, said his coalition and the military remained united.
Saturday's clashes were the deadliest political violence since 1992.
Red-shirted protesters have been camped out at various sites in Bangkok for a month.
They say Mr Abhisit's government is illegitimate and have vowed not to leave until a fresh election is called.
'Beleaguered leader'
Speaking to journalists, Gen Anupong Paojinda said he was reluctant to use force to end the stand-off.
"The problem will be resolved with House dissolution, but when to dissolve depends on the outcome of negotiations," he said.
 Police had tried to move protesters before Satruday's violence |
Since then, several governments have been thrown out following Electoral Commission rulings.
Shortly after Gen Anupong had spoken, the commission announced that there was sufficient evidence to bring charges against Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party.
The ruling will now be sent to the attorney-general's office for referral to the Constitutional Court.
Both the general's comments, and the commission's ruling, appear to give impetus to the red-shirts' campaign.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says the commission's decision could eventually trigger the collapse of the ruling coalition.
She says there are several legal steps before that happens, but the timing of the announcement makes Mr Abhisit look increasingly beleaguered.
Pressure on Mr Abhisit has been rising since the red-shirts began their protest a month ago, forcing businesses to close and at one stage storming parliament.
The prime minister had vowed not to use force against the demonstrators, but his supporters had been urging him to take stronger action.
Coffin parade
Saturday's violence was sparked when security forces tried to remove protesters from an area of the city they had been occupying near a bridge.
Pitched battles left 17 civilians and four police officers dead, and 800 other people were injured.
The protesters eventually forced riot police to retreat.
Early on Monday, the red-shirts paraded coffins through Bangkok.
Most of the coffins were empty, but at least two contained the bodies of demonstrators killed in the clashes.
Both sides accuse each other of firing live bullets during the confrontation.
BBC
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