BANGKOK: Thousands of defiant anti-government demonstrators fanned out to other parts of Thailand’s capital and threatened businesses with ties to the government today after ignoring police orders to leave Bangkok’s paralysed commercial district.

Some protesters pushed their way into their newest target, the Election Commission, in anger that the commission has yet to rule on whether the ruling Democrat Party violated laws on financial donations, which could lead to the party’s dissolution. No violence was reported and all protesters - inside and outside the building - left the area after a compromise was reached.

The protesters, mostly farmers from impoverished provincial areas, have sworn not to let up their pressure until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva steps down and calls new elections.

Protesters, many riding motorcycles or pick-up trucks, staged smaller rallies in the city. The central Bank of Thailand said 43 branches of commercial banks in the metropolitan area were shut today as a precaution.

In the first substantial compromise reached by the opposing sides, the commission agreed to rule on the allegation against the Democrat Party on April 20 rather than the scheduled April 30.