The peace talks between the PM and red leaders were televised live from 4pm, and ended at 7.20pm with an undertaking that they would resume at 6pm tomorrow, after the PM has paid a visit to Brunei. He is due to visit the Middle East on Tuesday. No concessions were made in today's talks.


FACE-TO-FACE talks were underway this afternoon between the Prime Minister and leaders of the red protest that has seriously damaged Thailand's tourism industry over the past two weeks.

Phuket rally leader Sunthorn Toema told Phuketwan that he expected a date for a national election would be set as a result of the meeting.

Three representatives of the red shirts moved into a meeting with PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and two government representatives at a school in Bangkok. The atmosphere appeared to be friendly and casual.

Phuket's Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra, a former Phuket Provincial Adminitrative Organisation chief officer who is now the Deputy Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department, was close to the PM as parties assembled for the important peace talks.

Mediators, including a professor who teaches on Phuket, were on standby to assist the gathering to find a compromise.

The surprise meeting, announced by the PM in a television appearance, came after signs that the protest could come to a violent end. Eleven people were injured in two small bomb blasts at two television stations over the weekend.

Observers believe patience is wearing thin on both sides, with Bangkok residents, caught in the middle, tiring of the constant days of gridlocked traffic and interruption to business.

More than 30 countries have issued alerts for Thailand and on Friday, Saudi Arabia became the first country to actively urge its citizens to leave the country.

One day earlier, a large international resort brand switched a regional meeting from Bangkok to Phuket.

Scores of media representatives were gathered outside the room at King Projadhipok's Institute.

The PM and his colleagues sat in light blue shirts at the table while on the other side, the red shirts lined up. At a second table sat the professor, as potential mediator.

Phuket has largely been shielded from the downturn in tourism because of direct flights. But other destinations in Thailand, and especially Bangkok, have suffered a drop in occupancy that is estimated at up to 30 percent.

Phuket recently improved its occupancy rate for February to 85.3 percent, with record numbers of tourists arriving on Phuket in January and February.

About 500 people from Phuket joined the demonstration in the capital, with the Phuket leader selling his car to pay for food and essentials during the extended protest, now in its 16 day.

The Phuket protesters were among scores who gave blood to spatter at key government buildings in a unique form of sacrifice and protest that gave the red rally headlines and television time around the world.

This afternoon PM's secretary general Korbsak Sapavasu and Democrat MP Chamni Sakdiset sat alongside Khun Abhisit with red shirt leaders Jatuporn Prompan, Weng Tohjirakarn and Veera Musikapong opposite.