Thai Prime Minister Somsak Wongsawat has dismissed calls for his resignation, saying that stepping down will not resolve the country's deepening political crisis.

Somchai Wongsawat made the remarks in a nationally televised address on Sunday.

"Many groups in society are calling for me to resign or to dissolve parliament. I want to tell you all that I am not attached to my position but I am not confident that that is the right solution."

He added that people should think twice when judging rumors that implied his resignation or dissolution of the Parliament. He would not make such decisions before taking into account all factors.

Anti-government protesters have demanded that Somchai resign to take responsibility for Tuesday's violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police. The incident has left two people dead and some 400 wounded. It was the worst political violence in Thailand in over a decade.

In his televised speech, the prime minister expressed regret at the events and said he had ordered an investigation.

He also urged the nation to focus on some urgent issues such as the economic woes facing the nation amid the recent global financial crisis and the ASEAN summit scheduled to be hosted by Thailand in December.