Thai PM: 'I will not resign over clashes'

Bangkok Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, right, has scotched speculation of his resignation or a snap election, saying he intended to host a regional summit in Bangkok in December. "The government has a duty to carry on the policies and tasks that are coming up," he told a news conference after a meeting of the five other parties in his coalition government. As well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) heads of government meeting at the end of the year, Mr Somchai cited the upcoming funeral of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's sister and the revered monarch's birthday in December. The coalition meeting was triggered by army chief, Anupong Paochinda, saying that Mr Somchai should step down to take responsibility for bloody clashes between police and anti-government protesters.