Thai premier vows not to quit as protests mounts

The Thai Prime Minister says he will not stand down in the face of intensifying protests against him. Thousands of anti-government activists are encamped inside his official residence in Bangkok and say they will remain there until Samak Sundaravej quits.

The protest led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy is now in its fifth day. The pro-monarchy group was behind a street campaign that led to the toppling of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2005. It claims Samak is merely a proxy for Thaksin whom it accuses of wanting to turn Thailand into a republic.

Samak rejects this and has told his followers he has requested a meeting with the King to discuss the crisis. Meanwhile, parts of the country remain badly affected by transport strikes called in support of the protest.

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