It has been reported that as Red Shirt protests continue with deadly ramifications, Thailand's prime minister says he won't hold national elections until next year.

The Wall St. Journal reported on Monday that the Red Shirt activists are calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who came to power in a 2008 parliamentary vote allegedly backed by military leaders and the Thai royalist establishment.

It has also been reported that the protesters who have taken to the streets in a series of demonstrations in the past several months, some of which turned into deadly confrontations with government forces, allege Abhisit's government doesn't represent the needs of lower-income Thais and would like Thaksin Shinawatra returned to power.

According to the newspaper, two grenade attacks killed one bystander and injured 11 others in Bangkok in the past week. Clashes between government authorities and Red Shirt protesters killed almost 90 people in April and May.

Thaksin was deposed in a 2006 coup and lives in exile. Although he was accused of corruption, Thaksin remains popular in some areas of Thailand after backing populist programs such as low-cost health care.

The Journal further said that by law, the government must call a national election by the end of 2011.

He is "confident" he can win over supporters of Thaksin by pursuing new social programs aimed at low-income Thais, Abhisit has said.

According to Abhisit, government is serious about redistributing wealth." (With Inputs from Agencies)