Thai PM dismisses resignation calls

The prime minister of Thailand has rejected calls for his resignation by thousands of anti-government protesters.Abhisit Vejjajiva signalled his intention to stay on as protests outside his office in the capital Bangkok entered a second day.Friday's developments came as Thaksin Shinawatra, the country's ousted former prime minister, prepared to make a video address from abroad to his supporters later in the day.Police estimated about 30,000 red-shirt demonstrators gathered outside Government House on Thursday, and about 3,000 of them remained the next day.The protesters say Abhisit's three-month-old government took power through illegal means.Last year, yellow-shirted demonstrators called for the resignation of the previous government and their protests ultimately led to the shutdown of Bangkok's two airports.