Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej vowed not to resign despite growing pressure for him to step down as anti-government protesters occupied his headquarters for a fifth day and disrupted rail and air service in some of the country's most popular tourist destinations. "I will not back down. I will rule this country and will lead it through all of the problems," said Samak, noting that his party soundly won December elections restoring democracy after a 2006 military coup. Sundaravej declared a state of emergency Tuesday in Bangkok to restore order after overnight clashes between government opponents and supporters left one person dead and 43 injured. Samak Sundaravej called it the "softest means available" to end the violence. But under the sweeping powers that give the military the right to restore order, authorities can suspend certain civil liberties, ban all public gatherings of more than five people and bar the media from reporting news that "causes panic."