The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, 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 seen by AFP, 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," Chavalit's letter said. "I consider that I have to take responsibility for the injuriest I quit as deputy prime minister post as of now," it said.

Recently appointed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat had tasked Chavalit with ending a six-week occupation of the main government compound by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a coalition of protesters calling on the government to step down.