Thailand's military-installed prime minister has refused to clamp down on opponents by declaring an emergency in Bangkok.
Surayud Chulanont said such a move was unnecessary as protests by supporters of the former premier do "not affect national security".
He also said a general election could be held as early as December 16.
He added that a referendum on a new charter being drafted is expected to be held "no later than September".
He made the comments after meeting General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the military chief, who called for emergency rule to stop deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra's supporters from protesting.
Growing rallies
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"[The situation] does not correspond with the need to declare a state of emergency"
Surayud Chulanont, Thai prime minister |
Surayud said he rejected the request by the coup leader because the situation "does not correspond with the need to declare a state of emergency".
Anti-coup protesters led by Thaksin's supporters have been holding small but growing weekly rallies calling for democracy to be restored.
A protest last Friday drew about 1,000 people with some demonstrators throwing rocks, plastic bottles and chairs at the police, and coup leaders fear that another rally this Friday could turn violent.
Temporary ban
City officials, after meeting security officials, issued a temporary ban on political rallies at a park between Thursday and Monday but protest organisers immediately switched to a different site in the capital.
Natthawut Saikua, a protest leader, said: "We have been clear from the start that our plan is to use transparent and non-violent means to show that what [coup leaders] have done is illegitimate."
Many Thais are becoming impatient with the interim government for failing, among other things, to prove corruption allegations against Thaksin.
The coup leaders scrapped the previous constitution on grounds that it allowed Thaksin to consolidate extraordinary powers in his hands.
They promised a public referendum on the new charter, followed by elections by the end of the year.