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Thai PM says working on roadmap to end crisis

May 04, 2010 00:00:00


BANGKOK, May 3 (AFP): Thailand's premier said Monday he would unveil a political roadmap to end a tense standoff with opposition protesters following the country's deadliest civil violence in almost two decades.
But the authorities said they were still planning an operation to disperse the anti-government "Red Shirts", who have been occupying parts of the capital since mid-March in their campaign for immediate elections.
"I will present a political solution or roadmap" out of the crisis, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in parliament. He said the outcome needed to be acceptable to the entire country, not only to politicians or the protesters.
Abhisit said he hoped to announce the roadmap within the next few days but it was unclear whether his plans would be enough to persuade the thousands of Red Shirts on the streets of the capital to end their rally. "This conflict and the situation cannot simply be resolved through force," he said separately in an interview with Japanese media.

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