Thai PM refuses to resign (9 a.m.)

BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand’s embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has vowed in a live radio broadcast that he will not resign.

Samak said Thursday he will not bow to the demands of anti-government protesters and will stay in office to “protect democracy.”

“I am not resigning,” Samak said in a radio broadcast, which had fueled speculation that he was about to step down.

Samak imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok on Tuesday after bloody rioting between his supporters and opponents left one person dead.

The violence heightened a national crisis that started Aug. 26 when thousands of opponents of Samak occupied the grounds of his office and refused to move until he resigned. (AP)

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