The shutting down of Bangkok by anti-government protesters on January 13 is not expected to escalate to the point where imposing an emergency decree to deal with massive demonstrations will become necessary, National Security chief Paradorn Patanatabut said Friday.

Military and police officials will jointly monitor political developments but a preliminary assessment concluded that the situation would not reach a critical level.

If necessary, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra can instantly declare an emergency decree, he said.

Read more: The Nation