Thai PM refuses to resign

Bangkok: Thailand's conflict-ridden government is considering plans for a national referendum to end a three-month-old political crisis, a cabinet minister said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has called a special cabinet meeting, which in principle approved a plan to hold a referendum, but what it would ask the people to vote for remains unclear, Cultural Minister Somsak Kiatsuranont told reporters.

Earlier on Thursday, the embattled Sundaravej said he will not bow to the demands of anti-government protesters and will remain in office to "protect democracy."

"I am not resigning," Samak said in a radio broadcast, which had fuelled 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.