(VOVworld) – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday rejected the opposition’s call to resign. She committed to continuing the country’s reform based on the Constitution until a new prime minister is elected. In a statement after a special cabinet meeting, Shinawatra pledged to protect democracy and urged protesters to cease their marches and prepare for an election scheduled for February 2^nd, 2014.

In another development, the US has expressed its support for the Thai government. State Department Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Washington supports the settling of political differences through peaceful and democratic means based on the people’s aspiration and the force of law. New Zealand has also hailed the Thai government’s recent moves to ease tensions.