Thai govt gives Red Shirt deadline

Thailand’s government say it is willing to talk with opposition Red Shirt protesters but only if the movement calls off its two-month long demonstration.

It had given the 5,000-strong crowd squatting in Bangkok’s commercial district until 8am GMT to leave the area or face criminal charges.

The Red Shirts will only join talks if they are mediated by the UN.

The once-peaceful protest has turned bloody in recent weeks. The escalating street violence has claimed 66 lives since the political standoff began, with hundreds more injured.

Thailand’s usually-booming tourist industry has been crippled by the violence and foreign travellers are being evacuated from some hotels as fighting spills over into areas popular with holidaymakers.

Copyright © 2012 euronews