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Thailand premier refuses to step down

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 2, 2013 9:31AM GMT

Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has rejected as unconstitutional protesters' demand to step down.

"Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do... but as prime minister, what I can do must be under the constitution," the Thai premier said in a televised address to the country on Monday.

On Sunday, opposition leader Suthep Thaugsuban issued a two-day ultimatum for Yingluck to step down and "return power to the people."

The Thai premier said the demand to transfer power from the elected prime minister to the people "does not exist under constitutional law."

Protesters in Thailand denounce the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the sister to former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra - a telecommunications tycoon ousted in a 2006 coup. Thaksin, who is said to be the power behind the current government, has lived in a self-imposed exile since his ouster.

Yingluck also stated that Thai armed forces "will be neutral and I know they want to see the country in peace."

Police on Monday once again clashed with anti-government protesters attempting to seize official premises including the Thai Cabinet Ministry in Bangkok. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against the crowd.

The protesters have already occupied several public buildings including the finance ministry.

Some 3,000 security forces have been deployed around major government offices.

The protests turned deadly over the weekend after supporters of the government, known as Red Shirts, took to the streets.

Reports say several people have been killed and dozens more wounded during the recent days of protests in the capital, Bangkok.

Protest leaders are calling for a general strike in an attempt to pressure the government.

The protests in Thailand erupted when the Thai senate on November 11 rejected a government-backed amnesty bill that could have extended a pardon to Thaksin and paved the way for his return to the country.

DB/HSN/HRB