国际英语新闻：Thai PM rejects demands for resignation, declares Friday national holiday

BANGKOK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Thursday evening turned down protesters' demands for his resignation in a national TV address, five hours after a pro-Thaksin movement's ultimatum expired.

    Abhisit had flown back Bangkok from Pattaya for the address, as protesters blocked all entrances to Victory Monument, a major business area, drastically raising the already-high political tension.

    He said from an unknown location that he will neither dissolve the parliament nor step down, adding the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has no need to set a deadline for him, the state NBT network reported.

    Abhisit, admitting the protest involved as many as 100,000 people at its peak on Thursday, said 70 percent of them had returned home, leaving about 30,000 encamped near Government House.

Taxi drivers and supporters of former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra block the main road during an anti-government protest at the Victory monument in Bangkok April 9, 2009

The Premier said the remaining protesters intended to disrupt the summits of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and dialogue partners, and that any of them who carrying illegal activities will get punished.

    The UDD, who has been holding the anti-government rally since March 26, demanded Wednesday that Abhisit and three Privy Council members to resign before 4:00 p.m. Thursday.

    About an hour after the deadline, the red-shirted protesters issued a statement reaffirming their demand for the government and privy councilors to step down, without specifying the retaliatory measures for refusing to meet demand.

    The prime minister called on the Thai people to host the ASEAN summits scheduled for April 10-12 in Pattaya, a resort city some 145 km southeast to Bangkok.

    Some 100 taxi drivers used their cars to block two roads at the Victory Monument in central Bangkok at noon Thursday to pressure the government to resign and threaten to blocked more sites, Channel 7 reported.

    On Thursday afternoon, the red-shirted protesters held rallies at the ruling Democrat Party headquarters, the Constitution Court and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an aide to Jakrapob Penkair, a former deputy chief of staff to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra told Xinhua.

    Meanwhile, Abhisit announced Friday (April 10) as a national holiday to ease the tension and assigned the NBT network, to serve as monitor station for "what really happens" and inform the public of the government's decision and action regarding the current turmoil.

    The main work of government at the current time is to restore the traffic obstructed by the mass rallies and taxi and insure the safety of the administrative offices, the premier said.

    The situation will return to normal as soon as possible with the cooperation of people, he said.