Caretaker Thai PM insists elections only option

Bangkok, May 12 (IANS) Thailand's new caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan Monday said that holding a general election to form a new government is the only way out of the prolonged political crisis.

The caretaker government would do its best to make the elections happen, Niwatthamrong said in an interview with foreign media, Xinhua reported.

"I don't think we will have a civil war and I have strong confidence that we will have an election," he said, adding both the government and Election Commission (EC) have learned a lesson from the Feb 2 electiona, which were first disrupted by anti- government protesters and later nullified by the Constitutional Court, and will try to do better next time.

He will meet EC officials to discuss a royal decree for new elections tentatively set for July 20.

All parties concerned in the current political unrest, including the government, political parties, protesters and pro-government Red Shirts, will be engaged to seek solutions that were in line with the constitution, the law and democratic process, Niwatthamrong said.

On Monday, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban led demonstrators saying they would move out of Lumpini Park in the heart of the capital Bangkok, which had been a major rally site for months, and to the new base on Ratchadamnoen Avenue near the Government House.

Suthep made the relocation decision after he and other protester leaders were allowed Saturday night to use the Santi Maitree building in the Government House as a command centre.

The army has been prepared to prevent confrontation between protesters and Red Shirts, Winthai Suwaree, deputy army spokesman said, adding so far there has been no sign of clash between the opposing sides.