Abhisit Vejjajiva said on March 19, "I am willing to talk but it should not be under this climate of intimidation.”

He was also ready to dissolve the House if it would help end the political conflict and if it would benefit the general public and the nation, not any particular group or person.

The PM said the government had found that the red-shirts rally over the past week was peaceful and thanked all parties for helping maintain peace and order.

He and other cabinet members have been staying at the 11th Infantry Regiment over security concerns.

The red-shirts were ready for peace talks with Mr Abhisit, said Jatuporn Prompan, a core leader of the pro-Thaksin United front for Democracy on March 18.

Mr. Prompan that the red-shirts are not refusing to negotiate but the PM has to dissolve the House first and all parties have to sign a pact saying they will respect the result of elections so the country can move ahead.

“And there must be no conditions for holding talks, as we are not subordinates of the prime minister and we have the same status as him,” he said, adding that the UDD wanted to talk directly to Mr Abhisit, not through a mediator.