Asia-Pacific

Thai govt ready to talk with red-shirts' leaders

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-17 22:48

Thai govt ready to talk with red-shirts' leaders

Riot policemen stand guard while supporters of former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra gather outside the US embassy in Bangkok March 17, 2010. [Agencies]

BANGKOK - Thailand's Deputy Prime Ministeter Suthep Thaugsuban said Wednesday that the government is ready for talks with the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, which is leading the ongoing anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thai media reported.

According to Bangkok Post online, Suthep Thaugsuban said that the government is ready to hold talks with UDD, particularly with its core leader Veera Musikhapong, on the condition that he must first get the green light from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is seen as the de facto leader of the red-shirts movement.

Suthep made the remarks while the red-shirts' rally, led by UDD, continued to mount pressure on the government for an early House dissolution.

Their latest actions included pouring more than 300 litres of blood at the Government House, the headquarters of the ruling Democrat Party and the house of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The blood was donated by the red-shirted people Tuesday.

Suthep said that while the government is ready for talks, most important of all, Thaksin must first show a clear stance.

Suthep said, however, it will not be possible for a national government to be set up with UDD core leaders being included in it.