Thailand's ruling party moved Wednesday to return Samak Sundaravej to power as prime minister, sidestepping a court ruling that forced him from office for taking part in TV cooking shows.

Thailand's ruling party Wednesday said it was considering candidates for the premiership, backing off a vow to return the job to Samak Sundaravej, who was forced out by a court over his TV cooking shows.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej awaited a court verdict Tuesday on accusations that his TV cooking show violated the constitution, which could see him forced from office, at least temporarily.

Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej holed up at his heavily-guarded home on Saturday as protesters vowed to continue defying emergency rule and hold marches demanding he step down.

The leader of Thai anti-government protesters camped out at the government compound in Bangkok urged his supporters to stay put Tuesday, in defiance of a ban on gatherings of more than five people.

Three people suffered gunshot wounds during overnight clashes between supporters of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and protesters demanding that he resign, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej appeared confident Tuesday after invoking an emergency decree to quell deadly protests in Bangkok, telling reporters he had done his duty as leader.

Thailand declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, banning gatherings of more than five people in a bid to clamp down on anti-government protests that erupted into deadly clashes overnight. One person was killed and dozens injured in the violence near the main government complex occupied for a week by activists who want Samak to resign.

Thousands of protesters clashed violently in the Thai capital, leaving dozens wounded and one person reported dead, officials said. Thailand's police chief said he had called in army reinforcements to help quell the unrest. "Initial reports which need to be confirmed later are that one died and 38 were injured," said a doctor with the Bangkok administration's media reporting bureau.

Thailand's biggest union, the 200,000-strong State Enterprises Workers' Relations Confederation called for a strike to pile pressure on Thai PM, saying they would cut power and water supplies to government agencies. This was in support of anti-government protesters who are squatting in the main government complex to demand the resignation of Premier Samak Sundaravej.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej sought a peaceful solution Monday to end a week of anti-government protests, after again rejecting calls for him to resign or hold new elections. Thousands of protesters remained camped at the main government complex in central Bangkok after storming through the gates seven days ago accusing Samak of acting as a puppet for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand's prime minister turned to parliament Sunday to try to prevent anti-government protests from entering a second week, but angrily rejected opposition calls for him to step down or hold fresh elections. Samak Sundaravej is still looking for a peaceful way out of the crisis that erupted when thousands of demonstrators invaded his offices, demanding that he resign.