Natthawut Saikua, a leader of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, said red-shirt scouts were sent to Parliament yesterday to see if Abhisit was attending a House meeting. The red-shirt protesters would have laid siege to the compound if the premier had been found inside.

"We will do the same if he enters Government House, but we won't try to force our way into the compound. Wherever Abhisit goes, we will go after him - if we know," Natthawut told reporters at the red-shirts' anti-government protest site at the Phan Fah Lilas bridge.

He called on the red shirts to go after Abhisit every place he goes to repeat their demand for him to dissolve the House "in a peaceful way".

The prime minister did not attend yesterday's House meeting, when opposition MPs posed questions for Cabinet members. Questions intended for the PM were answered by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart.

Natthawut yesterday said that some 72 litres of blood drawn from red-shirt protesters was still unused after the rest was spilled at locations as part of their protest. He said beginning today, the blood would be used by painters among the red shirts to create works of art about struggle between the classes.

After a joint meeting of the two Houses collapsed twice earlier this week due to a lack of quorum, MPs from both the coalition and the opposition yesterday managed to form the minimum number required for a meeting, part of which was televised.

Shortly after 9am, 123 MPs arrived at Parliament for the meeting. At least 95 MPs are required for a House session to open. Chuan Leekpai, an ex-premier and chief adviser to the ruling Democrat Party, was among the coalition MPs attending. Among Cabinet members were Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat, Energy Minister Wannarat Charnnukul and Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot.

The Parliament compound was under strict security with a heavy police presence. The lawmakers entered the compound through a gate on Rajvithee Road as the main front gate remained closed because of red-shirt protesters gathering nearby.

Yesterday's House meeting focused mostly on the ongoing protest by the red shirts. Some opposition MPs accused the government of unfairly portraying the red shirts in a negative light.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob, who chaired the meeting, called a 30-minute break after the coalition and opposition MPs failed to agree about the order of their questions to be raised during the interpolation session.

After the break, Pheu Thai MP Sunai Jullapongsathorn posed a question about military involvement in crowd control. His question was intended for Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, but because Prawit was absent, Sanan answered the question on his behalf.

Sunai also asked the prime minister as to why there was a large presence of soldiers in the city. Sanan responded that the military presence was intended as a deterrent against possible violence during the protest. He rejected Sunai's claim the military was "holding up" the prime minister, adding that it was following legitimate orders.

Yesterday's meeting grew tense when Democrat MP Shane Thaugsuban protested that the chairman - deputy House speaker and Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmeechai - was failing to follow meeting regulations and acting in favour of opposition MPs.

Pheu Thai MP Chaovarin Latthasaksiri posed his question intended for Shane's brother Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who did not attend yesterday's meeting. Sanan agreed to answer the question. Chaovarin accused Suthep of spreading news he described as provocative and inducing hatred towards the protesters. His accusation met with protests from many Democrat MPs.

At one point, Shane stood up and walked towards Chaovarin while complaining loudly about the meeting regulations being violated. Shane was stopped by senior Democrat MP Juti Krairiksh, who accompanied him out of the meeting chamber.

The chairman later ordered the meeting adjourned, citing the need to keep order.

After the incident, more than 10 opposition MPs including Chaovarin, held a press conference at the Parliament building, during which they denounced Shane for "inappropriate behaviour" for pointing at Samart, who was chairing the meeting.

» Photos: Protesters splash their blood outside PM's office

Read also:

» Red-shirt protesters decamp to Thai PM's residence

» Officials move in quickly to scrub off blood

» Protesters splash their blood outside PM's office

» Red shirts start shedding blood