(BangkokPost.com) - Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said Tuesday an emergency decree may be imposed in Bangkok if police cannot control anti-coup protesters or if general public ask for it.

The statement came after 200 riot police and 30 demonstrators were injured on Sunday night in a clash in front of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda's residence.

Gen Sonthi said that soldiers will only be deployed to control the crowd if police say that can no longer the situation, and that is when a state of emergency can possibly be imposed in the capital.

He insisted that soldiers will not disguise to be police and use violent measures against the protesters as claimed by anti-coup group United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship.

Gen Sonthi, who is also army chief, said the military are assessing public's opinion on the mayhem, whether they think the military did too little to handle the situation, adding that he is concerned about the country's image in the foreigners' eyes.

Acting national police chief Seripisuth Temiyavej said Monday that he will take tough stance on the demonstrators in the wake of the clash. He has ordered every possible charge against all the rally leaders and their supporters who attacked police.

Police sought arrest warrants against eight leaders on Monday on several counts, including illegal assembly, anti-government movements, defying police orders and attacking police.