Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on December 17 rejected protesters' demand for her resignation.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, the PM said she intends to fulfill her responsibility under the Constitution until a new government is formed after the upcoming general election, which she said she hopes the Thai people will join in.

The same day, the opposition Democrat Party convened its annual meeting in which Abhisit Vejjajiva, who preceded Yingluck as premier, was re-elected as its leader.

He said the party’s new executive board has yet to decide whether to run or boycott the general election.

After several weeks of anti-government protests, members of parliament from the Democrat Party resigned to join a protest led by its deputy head Suthep Thugsuban.

PM Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the parliament and proposed a general election for February 2, 2014 in an attempt to ease tension.

However, protesters demanded the establishment of a people’s council replacing the government to implement the political reform ahead of the election.-VNA