Thai parliament to meet as protests challenge PM

Bangkok: Thailand's parliament is holding a special session on Sunday to discuss street protests that have challenged Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Samak remained defiant even as thousands of anti-government protesters camped in the grounds of his office, saying they will not give up until he is toppled.

"I came to this job under a legal mandate. I will only go if the law does not allow me to stay and not simply because someone issues threats and puts pressure on me," Samak said.

His supporters are expected to rally in front of the parliament building on Sunday.

The violence reached a peak on Friday when Bangkok police fired teargas and rubber bullets to repel an assault on their headquarters by around 2,000 protesters.

Unrest has spread around the country, with demonstrators disrupting rail services and forcing some airports to close, leaving thousands of foreign tourists stranded.