BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) -- Thailand declared a state of emergency in its capital yesterday after protesters stormed parliament and ministers were airlifted to safety in an escalation of weeks of mass anti-government rallies.

Lawmakers fled and several senior government figures were rescued by military helicopter after red-shirted supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra forced their way into the country's parliamentary compound briefly.

BANGKOK, Thailand Thailand's Member of Parliament Varong Dejkijvikrom of the Democrat Party (right) holds the ladder for an unidentified woman official as they flee the Parliament before anti-government protesters storm the building yesterday. (Photo: AP)

In an effort to contain the crisis, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva invoked emergency rule, banning public gatherings of more than five people and giving broad powers to the police and military, in Bangkok and surrounding areas."The state of emergency aims to resolve the situation and bring a return to normal," Abhisit told a nationally televised news conference.

He said the mass rallies were unconstitutional and had tarnished the country's image, eroding investor confidence.

It is the fourth time since 2008 that emergency law has been declared in the capital because of political turmoil.

Thousands of protesters flouted the decree, waving flags and cheering as their leaders railed against Abhisit's government from their rally stage close to a cl**tch of luxury hotels and giant shopping malls.

"We have to prepare for another war. If the military comes you should not panic -- just stay put," Reds leader Veera Musikapong told protesters.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have refused to leave the city's main commercial district, where they have been since Saturday, disrupting traffic and causing major stores to shut.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban urged people with relatives rallying in banned areas "to tell them to leave immediately", adding that authorities would provide transportation for demonstrators from outside Bangkok.

Security forces have so far refrained from using force to disperse the red-clad movement, who are mostly from Thailand's rural poor and vowed to keep up their demonstrations despite the emergency decree.

The Red Shirts say the government is illegitimate because it came to power with army backing through a parliamentary vote in December 2008 after a court decision ousted Thaksin's allies from power.

"I am not afraid. The government can do whatever they want. I will not run away. I'll be here until we win," said Siri Sukcharoen, a 43-year-old masseuse from the eastern province of Prachinburi.

Abhisit left a cabinet meeting at parliament when he learnt that the Reds were approaching, moving to military barracks in the city's northern outskirts, where he has mostly been based since the protests began mid-March.

CAP... BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's Member of Parliament Varong Dejkijvikrom of the Democrat Party (right) holds the ladder for an unidentified woman official as they flee the Parliament before anti-government protesters storm the building yesterday. (Photo: AP)