BANGKOK - THAI Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat will remain in the northern city of Chiang Mai 'indefinitely' because of tensions with the military, a government spokesman said.

Mr Somchai was forced to land in Chiang Mai from a trip abroad on Wednesday after anti-government protesters seized control of Bangkok's two airports.

He declared a state of emergency at the airports on Thursday night as rumours of a possible military coup swept the capital, although the army said it was not intervening.

'As there are still uncertainties in the tensions between the government and army, for his safety the prime minister will stay in Chiang Mai,' government spokesman Suparat Nakbunnam said.

'He has no schedule to return to Bangkok, he will stay in Chiang Mai indefinitely for his security,' Mr Suparat said.

Cabinet ministers flew to Chiang Mai for an urgent meeting on Thursday, effectively setting up a government in exile from the capital, which remains cut off by air from the rest of the world.

Chiang Mai is a pro-government stronghold and the hometown of the exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is accused by protesters of being the puppetmaster behind the present elected government.

Telecoms tycoon Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 after similar protests led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, a loose group comprising the old Bangkok-based elite and elements of the palace and military.

'From now on officials will not disclose the prime minister's daily schedule to outsiders. He will coordinate with ministers by telephone,' Mr Suparat said.

Reporters in Chiang Mai said no one had seen Mr Somchai on Friday morning, even at his residence in the city. -- AFP