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Thai red-shirt protesters in Bangkok briefly stormed into Thailand's parliament compound as part of a plan to step up pressure on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajijva to call for elections.

Thousands of protesters pushed through a thin line of police and then rushed into parliament grounds.

The demonstrators did not immediately try to get inside parliament.

The left soon after.

Ministers had held a cabinet meeting inside the building earlier but had left before the protesters broke through.

The red-shirt supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had said they would target Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose military-backed government is under mounting pressure to call elections after nearly four weeks of protests.

Chaiyuth Arampibulkit, protester, said, "I think the government cannot survive now. I've never seen such a large number of people against any government like this before."

Tens of thousands of "red shirts" have occupied Bangkok's Rachaprasong intersection since Saturday, rejecting demands by the government to leave the area lined with posh department stores, which have remained shut, and luxury hotels.

Prime minister Abhisit is facing pressure from Bangkok's elite and middle classes and even his own government to stop the protest, but has held back to avert a confrontation that many believe would cause even greater damage.