BANGKOK - LIVING conditions at a 12-day-old protest at Thailand's Government House were worsening, with thousands camped in mud enveloped by the stench of urine, but organisers said on Saturday they will not leave until the prime minister resigns.

Protest organisers sprayed white disinfectant powder over the muddy, stinking ground, which was once a lush, green lawn before the complex was taken over by a horde of protesters on Aug. 26.

Thai PM holes up at home as emergency rule is flouted BANGKOK - THAILAND'S embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej holed up at his heavily-guarded home on Saturday as protesters vowed to continue defying emergency rule and hold marches demanding he step down. About 150 riot police surrounded the 73-year-old premier's home, where a government spokesman said Mr Samak is resting, as a state of emergency across the capital continued through a fifth day. ... more

On Saturday, only a few hundred people, cooling themselves with plastic fans, were sitting on the plastic sheets spread over the filthy mixture. Thousands more milled around on the roads ringing Government House, which houses the prime minister's office.

In one corner of the compound, the stench of urine pervaded the air even though organisers have set up portable urinals and toilets.

Makeshift tarp tents kept away the sun but not the clammy humid heat.

But the protesters remained unbowed.

'We can stand even tougher conditions. We will not move or leave the Government House. We are determined to be here until the government is out,' said Maleerat Nongsanga, 50, a civil servant who came on Friday evening and intends to stay over the weekend.

'During office hours I will go to work. But no boss can prevent me from supporting the people's revolution,' she said.

The standoff stems from a campaign by the People's Alliance for Democracy - a loose-knit group of royalists, wealthy and middle-class urban residents, and union activists - to oust Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his government, accusing it of corruption and violating the constitution.

The deadlock has virtually paralysed government work and raised fears of an economic downturn, especially in the crucial tourism industry. It has also raised concern about Thailand's ability to hold a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in December.

A glimmer of hope for ending the crisis was raised on Friday when Parliament appointed Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet to act as a mediator.

Lawmakers say a mediation should be done urgently because Mr Samak's plan to hold a referendum on whether the alliance's campaign is justified will take many months.

Mr Samak, who refuses to resign, reiterated on Friday that he will not negotiate with the alliance but he did not outright reject Mr Prasopsuk's effort.

The alliance welcomed Mr Prasopsuk's appointment, but said it will hold negotiations with the government only after Mr Samak resigns.

'We cannot do anything against the will of people who are determined to protest until our goal is reached.' Chamlong Srimuang, one of the five core protest leaders, told reporters.

'We will not shut the door for talks, but we will talk only after the prime minister has resigned,' he said.

The protesters accuse Samak of being a stooge of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed from power by a military coup in 2006 following months of street protests by the alliance.

On Friday, Mr Samak said he will meet with security officials in the next few days to discuss whether to lift the state of emergency he imposed in Bangkok on Tuesday. -- AP