Thai army chief warns country may 'collapse' in wake of mounting violence

Following a spurt in violent attacks in recent days that killed three children, the army chief of Thailand has reportedly warned that the country may risk "collapse" if it failed to control the rising violence.

Making a televised live speech, army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha said that as days go by, there will be more violence until it cannot be controlled, adding that if losses continued, the country will collapse for sure and nobody will win or lose.

According to news.com.au, twenty-one people have been killed and more than 700 wounded in violence linked to almost four months of anti-government demonstrations aimed at unseating Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Meanwhile, the army chief called for reconciliation through talks and said that the troops were ready to do their duty but did not want to use force and weapons to unnecessarily fight with the Thai people.