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Thai PM says no resignation despite pressure
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-12 22:30

BANGKOK -- Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat insisted Sunday in a TV national speech that he would not resign as the anti-government movement demanded, as his step- down would not solve the country's problems.

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is seen before briefing Southeast Asian ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry in Bangkok on October 8, 2008. [Agencies]
peaking on the state TV station National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) on Sunday evening, the embattled premier said the crisis facing the country needs a solution that could solve the conflicts between different sides and bring peace back to the kingdom.

He said people should think twice when judging rumors that implied his resignation or dissolution of the Parliament. He would not make such decisions before taking into account all factors.

As for the October 7 chaos, in which police shot tear-gas into crowds of protesters led by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to break their besiege around the Parliament compound and the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters, leading to two deaths and some 400 injuries, Somsak said some actions have not been taken according to the law and he has ordered to set up two panels to conduct investigations into the violent incidents and comforting victims and their families.  

He also urged the nation to focus on some urgent issues such as the economic woes facing the nation amid the recent global financial crisis and the ASEAN summit scheduled to be hosted by Thailand in December.