PM demands protesters end protests for sake of nation

Branding the protesters as "law breakers," Somchai vowed to bring back peace and prosperity destroyed by the protesters to the country.

"The protesters have weapons and break the laws by seizing the government offices at Don Muang airport and the Suvarnabhumi Airport. I consider them as destroyer of democratic system of the country," he said.

Somchai was speaking in a special televised programme held at state-run television station in Chiang Mai. He just returned from Peru where he attended summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. While he was away, the protesters led by People's Alliance for Democracy seized his temporary office at Don Muang Airport and later Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Therefore, he opted to land at Chiang Mai which is his stronghold.

"While I was away, I learnt about the protesters' besieging of my temporary office and the Suvarnabhumi Airport. The acts have tremendously damaged the country's reputation and economic," he said.

A lot of tourists and foreigners could not return home to continue their business following the seizure, he said. "I want to reiterate that the moves did not damage only me and the government but the country as a whole," he said.

"I want to call for the protesters to terminate their protests for the sake of the country and the people as a whole," he said.

Somchai also referred to a call of a situation monitoring panel under the Army for him to dissolve the House to end the political turmoil. The panel also suggested that the PAD ended the protests.

Insisting that his government has been elected by the people, he said his government will continue working for the sake of the country.

Somchai said he will chair a special cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss ways and means to bring peace back to the country,