Thai anti-government protesters have shut down Bangkok's second airport, effectively isolating the city from the rest of the world.

A day after they forced the closure of the main international airport, stranding thousands of passengers including British holidaymakers, supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) surrounded the Don Mueang airport, from where many of the country's domestic flights depart.

All air links into and out of Bangkok are now shut off.

Saerat Prasutanond, the president of Airports of Thailand, said the second airport would be closed indefinitely. "The two airports that serve Bangkok are completely closed," he told Thai television.

The move came as the Prime Minister Somchai Wangsawat met his cabinet to decide whether to impose a state of emergency to end the airport protests.

PAD leaders have insisted their airport blockade will remain in place until the government is toppled.

Meeting 350 miles out of Bangkok, in the northern city of Chiang Mai, to where Mr Somchai was forced to divert on his return from an international summit on Wednesday, MPs will also consider the use of a tough internal security law, Nattawut Sai-kua, the government spokesman said.

"We have to consider these legal options to solve the crisis," he said before the afternoon meeting.

Speculation is also growing that Mr Somchai might remove Anupong Paochinda, the powerful army chief, who has urged him to resign and call fresh elections.

While Mr Somchai resisted the demands, saying he would continue to work "for the good of the country," the general's demands have intensified speculation of an imminent coup.

General Anupong has repeatedly said he would not take over. But one military source said army, navy and air force top brass had been locked in talks late into the night, debating whether to launch a coup, two years after the removal of Thaksin.

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