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| Thai PM seeks parliament debate | Thai PM seeks parliament debate |
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| Thailand's prime minister has called a special session of parliament to discuss continuing anti-government street protests in Bangkok. | Thailand's prime minister has called a special session of parliament to discuss continuing anti-government street protests in Bangkok. |
| Thousands of protesters have occupied government offices for a sixth day, two provincial airports remain closed, and rail travel has been disrupted. | Thousands of protesters have occupied government offices for a sixth day, two provincial airports remain closed, and rail travel has been disrupted. |
| PM Samak Sundaravej has refused to resign, despite the mounting protests. | PM Samak Sundaravej has refused to resign, despite the mounting protests. |
| Protesters say the government is a front for the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. | Protesters say the government is a front for the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. |
| Mr Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and has fled the country to avoid facing trial over corruption charges. | Mr Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and has fled the country to avoid facing trial over corruption charges. |
| In his weekly radio address, Mr Samak said: "Since the government cannot resolve the problem - even the courts cannot resolve the problem - the joint session of parliament is the best choice for finding a solution." See a map of key protest areas in Bangkok | In his weekly radio address, Mr Samak said: "Since the government cannot resolve the problem - even the courts cannot resolve the problem - the joint session of parliament is the best choice for finding a solution." See a map of key protest areas in Bangkok |
| He again insisted that he would not resign, saying he was not afraid but was concerned about "chaos in the nation". | He again insisted that he would not resign, saying he was not afraid but was concerned about "chaos in the nation". |
| Mr Samak said he did not want to create a "bad atmosphere" by announcing emergency measures. | Mr Samak said he did not want to create a "bad atmosphere" by announcing emergency measures. |
| 'Revolution' | 'Revolution' |
| The special session of both houses of parliament is scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon. The protest has already developed into a people's revolution Protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul Q&A: Bangkok protestsRifts behind the political crisisProfile: Samak Sundaravej | The special session of both houses of parliament is scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon. The protest has already developed into a people's revolution Protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul Q&A: Bangkok protestsRifts behind the political crisisProfile: Samak Sundaravej |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, said that while Mr Samak's coalition holds a majority in the lower house, he is likely to face strong criticism from opponents, he said. | The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, said that while Mr Samak's coalition holds a majority in the lower house, he is likely to face strong criticism from opponents, he said. |
| On Saturday Mr Samak flew to the coastal town of Hua Hin to hold an unexpected meeting with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who normally stays out of politics. | On Saturday Mr Samak flew to the coastal town of Hua Hin to hold an unexpected meeting with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who normally stays out of politics. |
| Our correspondent says there was no indication that Mr Samak received any encouragement from the meeting. | Our correspondent says there was no indication that Mr Samak received any encouragement from the meeting. |
| One of the protest leaders has repeated a promise that they would not relent until Mr Samak had been forced out of office. | One of the protest leaders has repeated a promise that they would not relent until Mr Samak had been forced out of office. |
| "The protest has already developed into a people's revolution," Sondhi Limthongkul told the Associated Press news agency. | "The protest has already developed into a people's revolution," Sondhi Limthongkul told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Airports closed | Airports closed |
| The protests against Mr Samak's government are being led by a conservative group called the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). | The protests against Mr Samak's government are being led by a conservative group called the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). |
| On Tuesday, thousands of PAD supporters took to the streets of Bangkok and forced their way into government buildings. | On Tuesday, thousands of PAD supporters took to the streets of Bangkok and forced their way into government buildings. |
| KEY EVENTS Sept 2006: Bloodless coup by military sees PM Thaksin Shinawatra removed from officeApril 2007: New military-drafted constitution approvedDec 2007: General election won by People Power Party (PPP), seen as reincarnation of Thaksin's now banned Thai Rak Thai party Jan 2008: Samak Sundaravej chosen as PM Feb 2008: Thaksin returns from exileMay 2008: PAD protests against Samak beginJuly 2008: Thaksin goes on trial for corruption; his wife is found guilty of fraud. By mid-August the family has fled to the UKAugust 2008: PAD protests escalate | KEY EVENTS Sept 2006: Bloodless coup by military sees PM Thaksin Shinawatra removed from officeApril 2007: New military-drafted constitution approvedDec 2007: General election won by People Power Party (PPP), seen as reincarnation of Thaksin's now banned Thai Rak Thai party Jan 2008: Samak Sundaravej chosen as PM Feb 2008: Thaksin returns from exileMay 2008: PAD protests against Samak beginJuly 2008: Thaksin goes on trial for corruption; his wife is found guilty of fraud. By mid-August the family has fled to the UKAugust 2008: PAD protests escalate |
| Mr Samak was initially praised for his restraint in dealing with the protests, but he suddenly found his position weakened on Friday when the police pulled back and the triumphant protest leaders were left in control of the government complex. | Mr Samak was initially praised for his restraint in dealing with the protests, but he suddenly found his position weakened on Friday when the police pulled back and the triumphant protest leaders were left in control of the government complex. |
| About 2,000 protesters then besieged the city's police headquarters, prompting the police to fire what appeared to be tear gas to disperse them. | About 2,000 protesters then besieged the city's police headquarters, prompting the police to fire what appeared to be tear gas to disperse them. |
| Protesters have also occupied runways in the popular island resorts of Phuket and Krabi, preventing planes from landing and taking off and leaving thousands of tourists stranded. | Protesters have also occupied runways in the popular island resorts of Phuket and Krabi, preventing planes from landing and taking off and leaving thousands of tourists stranded. |
| In his radio address, Mr Samak said the protesters had "destroyed Thailand's image as the most attractive tourist destination" and that airport security would have to be reviewed. | In his radio address, Mr Samak said the protesters had "destroyed Thailand's image as the most attractive tourist destination" and that airport security would have to be reviewed. |
| A third regional airport, Hat Yai, reopened on Saturday. | A third regional airport, Hat Yai, reopened on Saturday. |
| Although the atmosphere was calmer on Saturday, the demonstrations continued outside police headquarters and thousands remained camped out at the prime minister's official compound, Government House. | Although the atmosphere was calmer on Saturday, the demonstrations continued outside police headquarters and thousands remained camped out at the prime minister's official compound, Government House. |
| The PAD was originally formed in the months before the 2006 coup, to demand Mr Thaksin's resignation. It has re-emerged now that the country is being led by his former ally Mr Samak. | The PAD was originally formed in the months before the 2006 coup, to demand Mr Thaksin's resignation. It has re-emerged now that the country is being led by his former ally Mr Samak. |
| It has a passionate following in various parts of the country, especially Bangkok, and some powerful backers among the elite, our correspondent says. | It has a passionate following in various parts of the country, especially Bangkok, and some powerful backers among the elite, our correspondent says. |
| But it has little support in most of rural Thailand, which voted strongly for Prime Minister Samak, and Mr Thaksin before him. | But it has little support in most of rural Thailand, which voted strongly for Prime Minister Samak, and Mr Thaksin before him. |
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