Thai PM Draws a Line in the Streets

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has responded with a resounding “no” to a conditional offer from anti-government red-shirt protesters to end a bloody standoff in return for early elections. The opposition’s offer represented a shift from earlier demands that parliament be dissolved immediately.

Vejjajiva says he will not accept “violence and intimidation.” Leaders of the red shirts fear a government crackdown as they continue to occupy parts of Bangkok in what has been a six-week-long confrontation. —JCL

The BBC:

Thailand’s PM Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected a new, conditional offer by anti-government red-shirts to end weeks of protests in return for early polls.

The red-shirts said on Friday they wanted parliament dissolved within a month, a change from previous calls for immediate dissolution.

They also called for an investigation into recent violence. Clashes two weeks ago with police left 25 people dead.

The red-shirts have been occupying parts of Bangkok for six weeks.

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Wikimedia Commons / World Economic Forum

Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, shown here at the World Economic Forum, has offered to hold elections by the end of 2010, a year ahead of schedule.