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'I will never resign,' says besieged Thai PM

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-30 19:32

Airports blocked

Newspapers condemned Friday's violence and chaos, which stretched to protesters blocking three airports, including one on the tourist island of Phuket, and striking workers halting some rail services.

Related readings:  Coalition parties in Thai government want PM resign to defuse tension  Thai protests spread, rail, air disrupted  Thai police confront protesters in PM's compound  Thai PM orders riot police to remove protesters

"The only acceptable form of damage limitation is a speedy return to conduct befitting a civilized society and the rule of law. To behave otherwise is to invite anarchy and chaos," the Bangkok Post said in an editorial.

One of the airports, in the southern town of Hat Yai, was functioning again on Saturday.

The protests are being led by the PAD, a motley group of businessmen, academics and activists who accuse Samak of being an illegitimate proxy of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Samak denies the accusation.

The assault on police headquarters came hours after scuffles between PAD supporters and riot officers delivering a court eviction order to the gates of the protest zone. The court later said it had retracted the order pending a PAD appeal.

The PAD proclaims itself to be a defender of the king against a supposed Thaksin plan to turn Thailand into a republic -- a charge denied by both Thaksin and the government.

Thai shares have fallen 23 percent since the PAD's street campaign began in May amid fears of policy paralysis at a time of stuttering economic growth and high inflation.

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