Thai PM apologises for fatal riots

13/10/2008 15:27:01

Thailand's new Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, has apologised for last week's deadly clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators, in a nationally televised address last night.

Our south-east Asia correspondent, Karen Percy reports he says resigning would not end the political crisis that has lasted more than four months.

During a brief television appearance, Mr Somchai said he was sorry for Tuesday's riots in which two people died and hundreds were injured.

Both sides accuse each other of using explosives.

Evidence from the scene is being analysed, while the police have conducted firing tests to prove they only used tear gas.

In his address, Mr Somchai urged the protesters to protest within the law.

He asked them to leave government house, where they have been holed up for almost 7 weeks.

Mr Somchai has been under increased pressure to resign in recent days despite being in the job little over three weeks.

Protesters postpone rally

Thousands of Thai government supporters have gathered in central Bangkok for a two-day rally, raising fears of a repeat of last week's violence in which two people were killed and more than 400 injured.

The pro-government rally was to coincide with a march on Monday by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, but PAD leaders have postponed their march at the last minute, easing fears of violence.

The PAD were planning to demonstrate outside the national police headquarters today against what they say was excessive police force against a demonstration at the parliament building last week.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Sunday used a televised address to call on all sides to reconcile in the face of the global financial crisis, and re-iterated he will not resign.

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