面對曼谷大規模抗議，英拉總理拒不辭職

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says she will not give in to opposition demands she resign, despite two days of large anti-government protests in Bangkok.

Mrs. Shinawatra told reporters Tuesday she has a constitutional duty to stay on as prime minister, and that only cooperation and dialogue can resolve the country's months-long political deadlock.

She spoke as thousands of opposition protesters filled Bangkok streets for a second day, waving flags and blowing whistles outside several government buildings in an attempt to disrupt official business.

Their leader, ex-Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, said he will keep up the protests, and even threatened to detain his rival if she does not step down soon.

The protests initially aimed to "shut down" the capital. But life continued as usual in most parts of the city Tuesday, though traffic was lighter than usual and protesters blocked several key intersections.

Prime Minister Yingluck has dissolved parliament, called for early elections on February 2, and proposed the formation of a national reform council as a way to resolve the months-long political crisis.泰國總理英拉表示不會在壓力下答應反對派的要求。泰國曼谷連續兩天發生大規模反政府抗議活動。

英拉星期二對記者說，她必須繼續擔任總理，這是她的憲法職責。她還說，只有通過合作對話才能解決持續了一個月的政治僵局。

星期二，泰國反對派抗議者連續第二天聚集在曼谷街道，他們在政府辦公樓外揮舞旗幟，吹哨子，企圖迫使政府停止辦公。

反對派領袖、前副總理素帖說，抗議活動會繼續下去，他甚至威脅說，如果英拉不很快下臺，他們就要扣押她。

抗議者的目的最初是讓首都陷於癱瘓狀態。但曼谷大部分城區星期二幾乎一切如常，只是交通不如平日繁忙。抗議者封鎖了幾個重要的交叉路口。

英拉總理已經解散了議會，宣佈在2月2日提前舉行選舉，並提議組成全國改革委員會，以解決這場持續數月的政治危機。