Thai PM says he will not quit as civil unrest spirals

THAI prime minister Somchai Wongsawat last night rejected his army chief’s call to quit in the face of anti- government protests that threaten to spiral out of control across the country.

Speaking on national television, Prime Minister Somchai said his government was democratically elected and would continue to work for the “good of the country,” despite claims by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that it is the puppet of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Somchai’s refusal to call a snap election, as army chief Anupong Paochinda said he should at an earlier news conference, heightened speculation of an imminent coup, despite Anupong’s stated aversion to such a move.