Thailand in turmoil following PM's rejection of Red Shirts' compromise offer

Bangkok, Apr 25(ANI): Thailand is once again in a political deadlock after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva refused to dissolve the House in 30 days, and organize new elections 60 days after that.

Abhisit said in a televised statement that he will not negotiate with the Red Shirts because they use violence and intimidation.

The leaders of Thailand's opposition United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the "Red Shirts", had earlier softened their stance and proposed the new deadline in a bid to resolve the country's constitutional crisis.

Meanwhile, reacting to Vejjajiva's decision, one of the Red Shirt leaders, Nattawut Saikua, said there was no point in continuing talks.

"These negotiations will stop. We will not talk any more," Sky News quoted Saikua, as saying.

Protest leaders say they will continue demonstrating unless a compromise can be reached.

The compromise offer from the Red Shirt leaders had come after they allowed a group of foreign diplomats to observe their rally base at Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok on Friday.

UDD leader Veera Musikhapong had said that the group leaders had reached a consensus on a new time frame out of concerns for the safety of the public.

"We are open to negotiation. We want to save lives and are ready to make sacrifices and negotiate," Musikhapong had said.

"This is a compromise time frame and the government should find it acceptable," he added. (ANI)