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Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejected demands to step down by noon as 40,000 anti- government protesters moved across Bangkok in vehicles to a command center where he has been monitoring the protests.

Waving red flags and blasting music from hundreds of cars and trucks, red-clad members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship repeated demands for Abhisit to call an election. The group, which backs fugitive ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, plans to return to the main protest site later.

The coalition parties “all agreed we won’t dissolve the Parliament,” Abhisit told reporters today from the 11th Infantry Regiment command center. “The request is a political request. Even though we can’t follow the request, we are willing to listen and exchange views.”

A protracted stalemate may increase the risk of violence as protest organizers weigh different tactics to escalate their street campaign against the government. Past ultimatums by Thaksin’s mostly rural supporters and urban opponents since he was ousted in a 2006 coup have led to airport seizures and street blockades.

“Do they want to provoke chaos and that would bring it to some kind of climax, or are they going to have to now settle down for the long term?” said Chris Baker, a Bangkok-based political analyst and author. “Because the numbers involved now are very large and the enthusiasm is huge, I don’t think this will go away so easily. That’s wishful thinking.”

About 40,000 protesters moved in the convoy across town and a further 10,000 remained at the main protest site today, where everyone will regroup this afternoon, police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said by phone.

About 70 percent of protesters live outside Bangkok and most work on farms, he said. “The protesters have food prepared for another three or four days,” Prawut said. “After that many people will need to go back to tend to their crops. Everything is under control. There is no sign of violence.”

Protest organizers estimated that as many as 600,000 supporters occupied streets near government buildings and tourist sites including the Grand Palace over the weekend. The crowds decrease during the afternoon heat and swell at night.

“If Abhisit dissolves the parliament and calls an election, we’ll all go home,” said Weng Tojirakarn, a protest leader. “We’d like Abhisit to give the power back to the people.”

Abhisit invoked the Internal Security Act for the sixth time since taking office 15 months ago, allowing the military to close roads and make arrests. Some 35,000 security officers and 46,000 civilian defense volunteers stand ready to use tear gas and water cannons if necessary.

Bloomberg