Thailand's embattled prime minister dismissed calls for his resignation yesterday, saying that stepping down would not resolve the country's deepening political crisis.
Anti-government protesters have demanded that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat should resign to take responsibility for violent clashes last Tuesday between protesters and riot police that killed three people and wounded nearly 500 protesters. It wa
s the worst political violence in Thailand in over a decade.
"Many groups in society are calling for me to resign or dissolve the Parliament," the Prime Minister said yesterday in a nationally televised address.
"I am not attached to my position," he said. "However, I am not confident that is the right solution."
The clashes turned violent after police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who were trying to block Parliament to keep Mr Somchai from delivering his first policy statement. Mr Somchai was sworn in on September 25.
Protesters have accused riot police of using excessive force and say they will stage a large demonstration later in the week outside Bangkok police headquarters.
Mr Somchai said he had ordered a fact-finding committee to investigate "what really happened" and another committee would be set up to determine compensation for families of victims.
The anti-government protesters have occupied the grounds of the prime minister's office since August 26. The protests have virtually paralysed the government and forced Mr Somchai to operate out of a makeshift office at Bangkok's old international airport.
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