Thai premier says he won't resign

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BANGKOK,Oct 17 (AFP): Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Friday he will stay in power despite growing calls for his resignation in the wake of a deadly confrontation between police and protesters last week.
Somchai's decision came amid a deepening political crisis that has nearly paralyzed the government and raised fears the army could seize power in its second coup in two years.
It also came a day after army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda - flanked by the commanders of the other armed forces - said in a TV interview that Somchai should take responsibility for the violence and hinted he should step down. Anupong repeated, however, his vow not to stage a coup.
Somchai said the government cannot abandon its work and responsibility.
"We have many major projects coming up," he said in a nationally televised press conference.
Somchai took office only last month but was immediately targeted by anti-government protesters for his relationship to his brother-in-law, deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
A demonstration against his government turned into a violent confrontation between police and protesters last week that killed one demonstrator and injured hundreds of others, as well as dozens of police.
Some demonstrators at that protest carried guns, iron rods, slingshots and rocks, and rioters torched parked cars, trucks and vans. Police have been accused of firing exploding canisters of tear gas that badly wounded many of the protesters.
Somchai established a special panel to look into the incident and said he expected a report in the next 15 days. "What happened is not what we intended," he said Friday.
"Whatever the result, the government will accept it," he said. "If someone has to take responsibility, we will accept it."
Thousands of anti-government protesters marching through the streets of Bangkok early Friday more explicitly called for the prime minister's resignation.
Somcha "ordered police to kill protesters. Thais should come out on the street to oust the evil government," said Somsak Kosaisuk, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy protest group.
The demonstrators blocked the streets of a busy business district in the capital and handed out compact discs and photos documenting the Oct. 7 clash.