Thai PM battles to keep peace roadmap on track

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The official launching of Dr Mauch branded footwear took place Tuesday at the Spectra Convention Centre in the city. The inaugural ceremony was headed by Manfred Everz, Managing Director of Dr Mauch parent company, CASA EVERZ and Mr Syed Nasim Manzur.

BANGKOK, May 7 (AFP): Thailand's beleaguered premier was fighting Friday to keep his peace process alive in the face of growing opposition among rival protest movements to his "roadmap" to early elections.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's proposal, which envisages dissolving parliament in the second half of September for polls in mid-November, aims to end a crippling weeks-long political crisis.
"We have to seek cooperation from everybody to return Thailand to peace," one of his deputies Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters. "Everybody must avoid violence and help solve the problem."
But the anti-government "Red Shirts" are demanding a firmer timeline before ending eight weeks of protests that have paralysed parts of Bangkok and erupted into bouts of violence that left 27 people dead and injured almost 1,000.
The rival "Yellow Shirts" -- who had previously backed Abhisit -- have rejected the roadmap and election plan and called on the prime minister to resign.
Abhisit was also seeking the support of his fragile coalition for the reconciliation roadmap unveiled earlier this week.