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BANGKOK, THAILAND - The founder of Thailand's anti-government protest movement said Friday he had rejected a personal plea from the prime minister to hold talks on the siege of Bangkok's airports.
Sondhi Limthongkul, who set up the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) said demonstrators would not leave until premier Somchai Wongsawat resigned, adding that the PM should "seek asylum in Myanmar".
"Today the prime minister contacted me on the telephone to negotiate. There are no talks - if they want to crack down, please don't wait," Sondhi told protesters at Don Mueang airport.
The Thai premier declared a state of emergency at Don Mueang and the larger Suvarnabhumi international airports on Thursday but police have taken no action amid fears that taking on the protesters could spark violence.
"The government has asked to negotiate - that means the government is defeated," he said.
"I ask Prime Minister Somchai to seek asylum in Myanmar within 24 to 48 hours."
The PAD, a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen, militarymen and the urban Bangkok elite, has vowed to continue its movement until the government elected in December stands down.
The movement says the government is a corrupt puppet administration for exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 following months of PAD protests.
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