Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, as the opposition stages major street protests in the capital Bangkok aimed at forcing her to step down.

The motion was brought by the opposition Democrat Party, but Yingluck's Pheu Thai party dominates the chamber and voted it down.  The PM has invoked special powers allowing curfews and road closures and police have also ordered the arrest of the protest leader, a former opposition lawmaker.  That hasn’t happened yet.

The mass protests have been going on since Sunday, but Thailand's education minister says he does not believe a coup is imminent.  The army does not appear to be backing the protesters, a necessary event for a coup to take place.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has urged all sides to "to exercise the utmost restraint, refrain from the use of violence and to show full respect for the rule of law and human rights".