Thai protests force talks offer

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Thailand's government has offered talks with exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as it tries to end a week of protests by his supporters.

Thousands of protesters have continued blocking government offices in the capital, Bangkok, defying a court ruling ordering them to disperse.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he wanted to avoid violence.

But he also said the government could not meet Mr Thaksin's demand that parliament be dissolved.

Mr Thaksin, who has lived abroad in self-imposed exile since being ousted in a coup in 2006, has appealed by video link for his supporters to pour into Bangkok from all over the country.

The demonstration has already forced the government to call off its weekly cabinet meeting.

'Too late'

The red-shirted protesters say Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva came to power illegitimately and should resign.

Mr Abhisit took office in December after a court dissolved a government led by Mr Thaksin's allies following months of protests similar to those now being staged by his opponents.

The prime minister's opponents say he is a puppet of the military.

Mr Abhisit had been forced to stay away from Government House over the past week, before leaving for the G20 summit in London.

"If talks can bring peace to the country, I am ready to meet him anywhere, because Thaksin is the only person that can end the siege," Mr Suthep said.

"But some of his demands are impossible, such as the dissolution of the house."

A national reconciliation bill that would clear Mr Thaksin of a jail term for corruption was also impossible, he added.

A Thaksin supporter said the offer would be rejected.

"The situation now is beyond negotiation," protest leader Jatuporn Prompan was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

"Since we want to topple the government how can we talk with them? It's too late and useless."