Government urges protesters to end rally to avoid more violence

BANGKOK, May 8 (TNA) — With two policemen killed and 13 persons wounded in two separate incidents late Friday and before dawn Saturday in central Bangkok, the Thai government urged anti-government protesters to end their rally as quickly as possible to prevent further bloodshed and let peace to be restored in the country, a senior government official said Saturday.

The latest incidents showed that a group of people did not want to see the prime minister’s national reconciliation plan, proposed on Monday, to take effect and succeed, said Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Panithan Wattanayagorn.

Following Saturday’s security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Dr Panithan, acting goverment spokesman,  said the government felt that anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) should decide to end their protest as soon as possible to prevent further bloodshed .

Korbsak Sabhavasu, secretary-general to the prime minister, was assigned by Mr Abhisitr to confer with UDD leaders on the reconciliation plan and that “a response should be given soon,” said Dr Panithan.

Regarding the arrival in Bangkok by thousands more UDD protesters from upcountry, Mr Panithan said the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) had already received reports and that security officials were assigned to handle the situation. (TNA)