Thai minister to stay despite protests

Bangkok: Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Saturday he will not quit in the face of growing street protests aimed at ousting his seven-month-old government.

"I will never resign in response to these threats," Samak said to cheers from the crowd attending a royal event at a sports stadium in Bangkok.

On Friday, hundreds of Thai riot police confronted thousands of anti-government demonstrators, with protests spreading across Thailand and forcing the airport in Phuket to close.

Thai riot police entered the occupied compound of the prime minister's office to deliver a court order for the eviction of protesters who have gathered there.