Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's vehicle was attacked Sunday by hundreds of anti- government protesters at the Ministry of Interior, and the premier escaped unharmed, Thai TV reported.

The red-shirted protesters used branches to hit the cars parked outside the ministry and forced drivers to open windows, and gunshots were reportedly heard as the prime minister's vehicle rushed out through protesters, according the website of the Thai newspaper Thairath.

Several police and protesters were injured during the riot when protesters tried to attack the motorcade leaving the Interior Ministry compound, on suspicion that the prime minister was inside one of the cars, Thai TV channel PBS reported.

The station confirmed that neither Abhisit nor Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was inside the cars.

The station said Abhisit and Suthep have left the Interior Ministry before the red-shirts managed to block the entrance of the compound.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2009)