The government is to ask the army to deploy more troops in Bangkok as fears mount that the country's lengthy political crisis could move into a more violent phase.
Surapong Tovichakchaikul, a deputy prime minister, voiced concern on Friday about the potential for clashes between pro- and anti-government groups if caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is ousted in May as a result of legal cases brought against her.
Ms Yingluck, who has faced six months of street protests aimed at forcing her out, has been charged with abuse of power for her transfer of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri in 2011, which opponents say was done for personal and party political reasons. If found guilty, she may have to step down.
"There are important legal cases coming up next month and the red-shirts will rally," said Mr Surapong, who heads the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) that coordinates the state's handling of the protests.
"We are worried there will be violence and clashes between the protesters and the red shirts, which is why we must increase the presence of troops to protect security," he told reporters.
The Feb 2 election that Ms Yingluck looked set to win was disrupted by the protesters, who stopped candidates from registering and blocked polling stations. As a result, the chartr court nullified the election in March bec ause it was incomplete and the Election Commission has yet to set a new date.
Opposition leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also warned of an escalation in violence next month and offered to help kick-start dialogue between the different parties and groups involved in the protest.
"I think there are many people who want to see common ground emerging. My intention this week is to say that: isn't it time we all accept the reality that neither side can get its way, and even if it did, it couldn't bring long-lasting stability," he said in an interview.
In a message posted on YouTube, he added that coming court verdicts would not solve the problem either, nor would any intervention by Thailand's coup-prone army.
"The courts cannot tell us how the country will move forward in a manner that all sides will accept," Mr Abhisit said. "And I don't believe that a coup, by whoever, or military intervention, will bring peace back to the country."
Amongst the charges Ms Yingluck faces is one of dereliction of duty for overseeing a financially ruinous state rice-buying scheme.
The government and anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former Democrat MP and party strongman, have not accepted Mr Abhisit's invitation to talk.
"Mr Abhisit must talk to Suthep and ask him to stop his protest and Mr Abhisit must commit to elections. If he can do this then the government is ready to talk to him," said Mr Surapong. "But he must not be two-faced."