Several lawmakers join protest

Several Thai members of parliament joined demonstrators occupying the prime minister’s office in calling for his resignation, but a confident Samak Sundaravej again insisted he would not step down.

Samak said he called a joint session to get lawmakers’ opinions on how to restore political peace as the protesters, led by the right-wing People’s Alliance for Democracy, continued to threaten chaos around the kingdom.

The prime minister received key support Saturday from his ruling six-party coalition, which said it would not back calls for dissolving parliament to call new elections.