Thai PM vows to retake Bangkok protest site

BANGKOK: Thailand's embattled premier vowed to clear Bangkok's commercial heart of anti-government Red Shirt protesters as he appeared on national television on Sunday in a show of unity with his army chief.

But Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva did not say when security forces planned to regain control of the Red Shirts' vast protest site, which has been fortified with barricades made from truck tyres and sharpened bamboo poles.

The Reds, who are demanding elections to replace the government, have occupied the Ratchaprasong intersection for three weeks and fear a crackdown is looming after Abhisit rejected their offer of a compromise.

"There will be a retaking of Ratchaprasong but the process, the measures, how and when it will be done we cannot disclose because it depends on several things," said Abhisit.

"The main point now is not whether or not to disperse but how to solve the whole problem," added the premier, who has been holed up in a military barracks since street rallies erupted in mid-March.

The pre-recorded televised appearance by the premier and army chief General Anupong Paojinda was seen as an attempt to quash speculation of a rift between the two men on how to deal with the crippling political crisis.

Anupong said the military would follow government orders. "We are an army for the nation, for the monarchy and for the people. We will do our job without taking sides. We will follow government policy," he said.

The army chief said Friday, however, that the use of force was no solution to the crisis, which has twice descended into deadly street violence this month, leaving 26 dead and hundreds injured.

When troops tried to sweep Reds out of Bangkok's historic area on April 10 they suffered a humiliating retreat, and there is growing talk of "watermelon" soldiers -- green outside but red inside -- who support the protesters.

Anupong played down talk of a split within the army, which has been sending out mixed signals on how it prefers to handle the demonstrators, who are defying a state of emergency and a ban on rallies in the capital.

"As for a rift in the army, it is possible there will be rifts in a big organisation but the number of people who have different ideas are not many and this will not cause problems," he said.

He admitted, however, that some serving troops apparently fought alongside the Red Shirts in the April 10 clashes. "We have information that a group of armed people has been set up. Some of them are in the army but have no (senior) position, the rest are not, but may be retired or former members."

Hopes for an agreement to end the long-running protests were dashed Saturday as Abhisit ruled out the Red Shirts' offer to disperse if parliament were dissolved in 30 days for elections in three months' time.

In response the Reds -- mostly rural and urban poor who support ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- said they would prepare for a military offensive to clear their camp which has forced hotels and malls to close.

"Abhisit has ordered a crackdown on protesters within 48 hours, that is the information I have learned," said Reds leader Nattawut Saikuar late on Saturday.

In northeast Udon Thani province, about 150 police officers were prevented from travelling to the capital by more than 1000 Red Shirts who blocked their way late on Saturday, local police colonel Kittisak Jamrasprasert said.