Thai foreign minister quits as Bangkok protests drag on

Tej Bunnag, a retired diplomat appointed in July, resigned after completing his mission to repair relations with Cambodia after a temple row that forced out his predecessor, a television channel and news Web sites said.

Tej once served in King Bhumibol Adulyadej's principal private secretary's office, and his departure could be seen as the revered monarch expressing his reservations about Samak's administration.

News of the resignation came a day after Samak invoked emergency rule in Bangkok to quash intensifying street protests against his seven-month old administration.

"If it is true, it is another step toward the end of this falling government," Ramkhamhaeng University analyst Boonyakiat Karavekphan said of Tej's reported resignation.

A public sector strike to pile pressure on the embattled prime minister failed to disrupt electricity, water and transport services in the city of 10 million people on Wednesday.