Thailand’s prime minister refuses to quit in face of mass protests

Pro-democracy demonstrators face water cannons as police try to clear the protest venue in Bangkok, Thailand (Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP)

Thailand’s prime minister rejected calls for his resignation, while riot police cracked down on thousands of student-led protesters who rallied in the capital in defiance of a strict state of emergency.

Police used water cannons and charged at the crowd, scattering protesters, onlookers and reporters.