Thousands of Thai protesters have broken through police and army lines to occupy a building at a satellite station compound north of Bangkok.

Tear gas was used against the crowd but the anti-government protesters regrouped and pushed back, forcing the security forces to retreat.

The opposition People Channel was shut by the government on Thursday under a state of emergency imposed in the city.

It follows a month-long protest aimed at ousting the prime minister.

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Bangkok, says that the red-shirts have surrounded a building in the ThaiCom compound and are demanding a meeting with a senior military commander.

Our correspondent says they are intent on restoring the signal of the People Channel, which has proved an effective tool in drawing thousands of extra protesters into Bangkok.

"We want our TV back. You cannot shut our eyes and ears," a protest leader, Jatupom Prompan, was quoted by Reuters as saying.

The army has surrounded the compound and the atmosphere is said to be calm.

This is the first time during the current stand-off that the government has used force against the protesters.

Earlier, in a televised statement, a spokesman for the Thai military said it was prepared to used light to heavy means to hold back the protesters.

If the red-shirts failed to heed warnings, he said, batons, tear gas and rubber bullets would be used.

The red-shirts began their campaign on 12 March, establishing two camps in Bangkok - one at Government House and another in the commercial district, forcing some businesses to close.

The red-shirts converged on the satellite station in Pathum Thani following the closure of the People Channel - an opposition broadcaster key to coordinating their efforts.

They have vowed to get the channel - which the government has accused of inciting violence - back on air.

The red-shirts - many of whom are sympathisers of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra - want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and call elections, saying his government is illegitimate.

They have vowed to defy the emergency laws with more rallies.

Arrests warrants have been issued for several of the protest leaders.

Source BBC