Troubled Thai PM 'will not quit'

Thailand's beleaguered Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, has said he will not resign despite mounting pressure.

In a radio address to the nation, he said he would not bow to the demands of anti-government protesters.

On Tuesday Mr Samak imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok after his supporters and opponents clashed in the capital, leaving one person dead.

Protesters say the government is a front for Thaksin Shinawatra - the former prime minister, now in exile.

"I am not resigning," Mr Samak said, adding that he had a popular mandate to govern.

"These people want the government to quit, but how could I do that if the entire world is watching? It would be embarrassing to do so," he said.

He would not dissolve parliament, he said, adding that he would stay "to preserve democracy and to protect the monarchy".

Mr Samak's comments came shortly after the Thai foreign minister, Tej Bunnag, who was a close adviser to the king, had offered his resignation.

Divided society

Thousands of members of the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) remain in official compounds in Bangkok, which they seized more than a week ago.