BANGKOK, March 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Thai Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Monday reiterated his willingness to meet with his arch critics, including leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), but stressed he would not bow to any group pressing for his resignation.

    Asked for his comment on continued demonstrations by anti-Thaksin groups led by the PAD, including local media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul and his former political mentor Maj. Gen. Chamlong Srimuang, the caretaker premier said the resolution of the current political turmoil does not solely depend on him, but all parties concerned must cooperate to end the problem, reported the Thai News Agency.

    "I've made many steps back already. For the sake of national benefit, the current political turmoil should not be dragged for long," he told journalists Monday morning in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, where he had launched election campaign forhis Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party in the run-up of the April 2 snap election since Sunday afternoon.

    "I'm still ready to meet with my arch critics, including the leaders of the PAD and those of the opposition parties, but so farI haven't been contacted," he said.

    Responding to a question on prolonged protests by the anti-Thaksin groups to press for his resignation eventually, Thaksin said as long as the protests are within the democratic framework and do not violate other people's rights or do not damage public assets, there would be no problem for the protesting demonstrations.

    He asserted, however, that he would not bow to the anti-Thaksin groups' demand for his resignation without any condition.

    "If I bow to their demand, the country's democracy and the people's power and decisions through general elections will become meaningless. It will also become a bad norm for the Thai politics in which protesters could oust any prime ministers they don't like whenever they want in the future. This will be detrimental to the Thai politics and the nation," he said.

    "I must have a strong stance to uphold the country's proper democracy," he added.

    The embattled caretaker prime minister is scheduled to continue his election campaign in many other provinces, including the central Ratchaburi Province later on Monday.

    The country's three former main opposition parties -- the Democrat, the Chart Thai and the Mahachon Parties -- have boycotted the April 2 snap election after Thaksin recently refused to meet leaders of the parties for an agreement on the second-round political reform, but invited leaders of other minor parties to participate.

    The three former opposition parties now also demand for Thaksin's resignation. Enditem