BANGKOK - THAILAND'S recently appointed deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh resigned on Tuesday because of a crackdown on fresh anti-government protests.
In a resignation letter, Mr Chavalit, one of five deputy prime ministers, said his role as chief negotiator with demonstrators had been compromised after police twice fired teargas to disperse crowds on Tuesday morning, injuring 85 people.
'The reason I resign is because what the security officials have done is not in line with what I had promised and I have attempted to avoid casualties,' Mr Chavalit's letter said.
'I consider that I have to take responsibility for the injuries... I quit as deputy prime minister post as of now,' it said. -- AFP
