Thai govt rejects army call to go

Thailand's army chief told the government yesterday to step down and call a snap election as a way out of a political crisis threatening to spiral out of control after a gang shot dead an anti-government activist.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat rejected army chief Anupong Pachinda's call to dissolve parliament.

He said in a national television address last night that the Cabinet would hold an emergency meeting today to discuss "measures" against protesters in Bangkok who have broken the law.