Yingluck says she won't step down

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she has no plans to resign amid growing criticism of the government's handling of severe flooding. "People pin their hopes on us. I would be dressed down thoroughly if I quit because of this problem," Yingluck said. Her pledge to stay on as prime minister came as activists, claiming mismanagement, threatened class-action lawsuits against the Thai government and state agencies, the Bangkok Post reported. The devastating floods have killed at least 446 people and affected 10 million people, officials say. Narong Phetprasert, a Chulalongkorn University economist and associate professor, said he had discussed possible litigation with lawyers. He said a class-action suit would cover not only those directly affected but those who had lost income because of the flood. "The lawsuit is not limited to people whose houses are submerged," Narong said. "It will also include those whose houses aren't flooded but who lost income due to the flood." He said a suit could target not only the government but agencies including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Agriculture Ministry and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.