Thai authorities have given an ultimatum to protesters camped in Bangkok, calling on women and the elderly to leave the camp by Monday afternoon.
The Thai government is asking independent organisations, such as the Red Cross, to help coax anti-government protesters out of their fortified camp.
Clashes between troops and protesters killed six people on Saturday, bringing the death toll from three days of violence to 24, with 187 injured.
The BBC reported on Sunday that soldiers have taken up positions behind sandbags on a highway in central Bangkok, outside the barricades of the Red Shirt's encampment.
Witnesses say they're firing live rounds and they appear to be targetting anyone who comes near them.
The government has asked the media and non governmental organisations to help people to leave safely through checkpoints set up by the protesters and by the troops.
Earlier the government had announced a curfew would be imposed on parts of Bangkok, however the BBC has been told this will not now happen.
Govt designates "live firing zones"
Government troops have designated areas around the camp as "live firing zones" in a warning to protesters.
Thai soldiers have fired live rounds and protesters have fought back with rocks and petrol bombs.
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insists the army is not shooting to kill and any shots that have been fired were done so in self defence.
There have been running battles around a camp where the 'red-shirt' protesters, who want the prime minister to resign, have been based since March.
In his first televised comments since Thursday, Mr Abhisit said a minority of protesters opposed to dialogue were putting the stability of the country at risk.
He said military action is the only way to end the protests and there's no turning back.
"We will not retreat", he said.
The trouble escalated on Thursday after a renegade general who supports the protests was shot and injured by an unknown gunman.
Numerous foreign embassies in the central business district, including that of New Zealand, are closed.
It is Thailand's worst political unrest in nearly two decades.
Thai officials say more than 50 people have been killed and at least 1,500 wounded in total since the protests began in mid-March.
Support for former PM
Many of the protesters support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.
Mr Thaksin has called on the government to withdraw troops and restart negotiations.
The current protests began on 14 March. A state of emergency was declared in Bangkok on 7 April.
