PM goes on air venting about 'street gangsters who are in cahoots with opposition to oust him from power'

A belligerent PM Samak Sundaravej says if his government is ousted in favour of a Democrat administration, he'll take to the streets at the head of demonstrations against it.

"Let's see what happens to the country if I later do as you are doing now," Samak says.

His remarks came on his weekly radio and television broadcast.

He implied People's Alliance for Democracy protesters are "street gangsters".

PAD hits back

PAD leaders hit back denying they're a mob. They say they're "angels" seeking to remove bandits from Govern-ment House.

"The bandits must be thrown out because they have sold our land. Just having a lese majeste charge against a Cabinet minister is grounds enough for this government to be expelled from the country," PAD leader Somkiat Pongpai-boon says.

Samak accuses the alliance of colluding with the opposition to bring a censure motion against his government in conjunction with the street protests.

He accuses the Democrats of attempting to turn his

coalition partners against him, too.

I'm embarrassed: PM

He says the coalition

partners can vote to censure his ministers following the debate. If this happens, the government will lose the argument and the partners can cross the floor and the opposition can form the next executive.

But, he warns if this happens, he'll form his own anti-government protest movement and swap places with the PAD.

The PM says he's "embarrassed" the PAD demonstration is now outside the United Nations Bangkok headquarters.

He says he wanted to take legal action against the protest but opted for "patience" after being "condemned" and told he was "stupid".

He says if any citizen has had enough of the PAD activities to let him know, and he'll instigate that legal action.

He's angry, too, that the protest has forced several schools to close.