BANGKOK - THAILAND'S embattled prime minister denied a rift with the army on Sunday and dismissed the possibility of a coup to overthrow his government later this month when he travels to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej noted that Thailand's last coup occurred in 2006 when then-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was in New York at the UN headquarters as massive anti-government protests were going on at home.

But he said history was not about to repeat itself.

'I will deliver my speech at the United Nations and I don't believe any unwanted incident will happen like when Thaksin went to speak there,' he said in his weekly television broadcast.

'The military will not stage a coup,' he said. 'They know the international community will not tolerate (another) coup.'

Democracy in Thailand has a history of fragility; the military has staged 18 coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

Anti-government protests began in May, but the situation flared on Aug. 26 when demonstrators stormed his office compound. They have refused to leave Government House until he resigns.

Mr Samak lamented that the protesters have ignored a state of emergency that he imposed last week.

Demonstrators have pitched their tents and set up stages and portable toilets on the once manicured grounds of his office compound - and they show no sign of budging despite torrential rain for two consecutive days.

'After declaring the state of emergency, I thought everyone would be scared and disperse. But no one cares. They're ignoring the law,' Mr Samak said, reiterating his refusal to step down.

'But I will not bow to them.'

Emergency rule empowers the army to use force to restore order, but the army chief has refused to evict protesters from Government House, prompting speculation of a rift between Mr Samak and the military.

'Speculation about the army deserting me is stupid and groundless,' said Mr Samak, who is known for his folksy talk. 'They are siding with me and support a gentle approach for not using force with those who have seized the government's office.'

Mr Samak has proposed to hold a referendum on his seven-month rule, a move that critics call a stalling tactic since any vote is unlikely to be held for several months.

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 Mr Samak and his government, accusing it of corruption and violating the constitution.

The protesters accuse Mr Samak of being a stooge of Thaksin, who was prime minister for six years before being deposed in 2006 following months of street protests by the alliance.

Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, recently fled to Britain to escape corruption charges.

Living conditions at the 13-day standoff at Government House were worsening, with thousands camped in mud and enveloped by the stench of urine after recent tropical downpours.

Protest organisers sprayed white disinfectant powder Saturday over the muddy, stinking ground at Government House, which previously had a lush green lawn and manicured tropical gardens.

People camped in heavy rain under makeshift tents with plastics sheets spread over the filthy mixture on the ground.

More than 200 people lined up on Saturday to get free medicine from makeshift clinics. Elsewhere in the compound, hundreds of people lined up to use mobile toilets while some men relieved themselves in the open amid the pervasive smell.

'It is a bad smell everywhere, but we can stand it. To get this government out of office we are even prepared to die,' said Mananya Maksukkha, a 54-year-old schoolteacher.

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.

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 on Tuesday in Bangkok. -- AP