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Thai prime minister breaks deadlock
Agence France Presse - May 7, 2010
Anusak Konglang, Bangkok – Thailand's lower house of parliament will be dissolved in September, paving the way for November elections in a bid to end a crippling political crisis, the embattled Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has announced.
Anti-government activists known as the Red Shirts, who have been waging a campaign of protests in an attempt to force snap elections, have signed up to Mr Abhisit's reconciliation plan, which envisages national polls on November 14.
After a long and bitter stand-off marred by outbreaks of violence that left 27 dead and hundreds injured last month, the Red Shirts remain suspicious and want more details before leaving their vast encampment in central Bangkok.
"Everybody can calculate the date," Mr Abhisit said when asked to specify the timing of the dissolution, which the Red Shirts are demanding before they end the rallies that have paralysed the capital.
Asked whether it would happen between September 15 and 30, dates given by one of his allies, Mr Abhisit replied: "Yes."
An opposition leader, Weng Tojirakarn, told supporters yesterday to remain on their guard, accusing the government of having backtracked on promises in the past.
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