Thailand's government stressed national reconciliation today after the worst riots in the country's modern history but it would not commit itself to an early election date demanded by red shirt protesters.
Troops continued their search for explosives in the upmarket commercial area the red shirts occupied from April 3rd until they were dislodged by troops on Wednesday, which sparked violence and arson around the capital.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva highlighted a reconciliation plan in an address to the nation yesterday but made no mention of the November election he had proposed at the start of May as a way of ending the protests peacefully. Elections are not due to be called until the end of 2011.
"He does not rule out an early election," a government spokesman told Reuters today. "It depends on how much progress we make on the reconciliation road map. The prime minister will decide on the election date later."
Any red shirt leaders not facing charges for offences allegedly committed during the unrest would be welcome to take part in the process, he added.
A six square kilometre area extending out from Bangkok's shopping district was still under military control but the government said soldiers would pull back from tomorrow and allow people and cars into the area again.
However, a grenade is reported to have gone off in the area near the Central World shopping mall badly damaged in Wednesday's rioting.
A deputy governor of Bangkok said he understood no one had been injured. The grenade may have been set off as troops searched the area. A curfew remains in force overnight on Saturday.
Reuters