Thai PM reasserts he won't resign or dissolve parliament

BANGKOK, Sept 4 (TNA) - Embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
reasserted that he would not resign or dissolve parliament but vowed to stay in office "to protect democracy".

In his radio address Thursday morning, Mr. Samak said he would not bow to
the demands of the anti-government protesters led by the People's Alliance
for Democracy (PAD) that began its campaign against his government for
more than 100 days since May 25.

The protesters have encamped in the Government House compound for 10 days
to put pressure on Mr. Samak to resign.

"I will not quit. I will not dissolve parliament. I will stay to protect
democracy and the monarchy," the Prime Minister reemphasised in an hour
long special radio address on Radio Thailand.

He also said the five plus one core leaders of so-called democracy
movement had no right to bring people to break into and occupy the
Government House premises, and he urged the public who join the
anti-government protest to rethink whether it was right to drive out a
government that was democratically-elected.

The prime minister said that he accepted the resignation of Foreign
Minister Tej Bunnag. He said the well respected diplomat had withstood
political pressure from many directions, and that his wife was not well.

He added that Mr. Tej's wife was stressed by her husband's work with the
beleaguered Samak government and she physically reacted by collapsing.

Mr. Samak also thanked Mr. Tej for doing a good job in helping the
government and said he had no conflicts with him and would continue to
maintain a good relationship.

Mr. Tej's departure came a day after the premier declared emergency rule
on Tuesday after clashes between his supporters and anti-government
protesters killed one man and injured 43. (TNA)