A red-shirts' leader said Sunday that a state-of-emergency decree, if imposed, will not be able to keep the ongoing red-shirts rally in check, as the anti-government movement is expected to give their ultimatum to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva by noon.

Natthawut Saikua said the red-shirts do not care whether the government heightens the level of security measures or not, responding to a earlier news report that the government is "likely " to declare the state of emergency to deal with the ongoing massive rally in Bangkok.

"It is not surprising that the government will change from the imposition of the International Security Act to the declaration of the state of emergency, but any piece of law cannot prevent the red shirts from demonstrating," Natthawut was quoted by The Nation online as saying.

On the other hand, Abhisit had clarified that the government has not thought to use force to deal with the rally by red-shirts.

In a regular TV speech program on Sunday morning, the prime minister said it is not easy to declare state of emergency because there must be several conditions that can justify the declaration.

The Nation on Sunday quoted an unidentified "senior government source" as saying Abhisit is expected to hold an emergency Cabinet meeting before the emergency decree is used.

A state of emergency, if imposed, will empower the military to fully take charge of the situation. Under the ISA, soldiers can only help the police in maintaining law and order.

The red-shirts movement intends to push the government agree, under the pressure of a mass rally, to dissolve the parliament and call a fresh general election.