Coup no solution to Thailand's political stalemate: army chief

Thailand's army chief Saturday insisted that a military coup will not solve the country's political predicament, and soldiers would always be the people's last resort.

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha called on all parties involved to end the current unrest in Thailand through legal means and not to resort to violence, Xinhua reported.

The army was ready to cope with any possible situation, Prayuth said, adding he was duty-bound to protect people from all groups in the society.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), or Red Shirts, kicked off a mass rally on the western outskirts of Bangkok Saturday to show support for the caretaker government and opposition to the demand by anti-government protestors to install an unelected prime minister.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban Friday proposed the president of the Supreme Court and Senate speaker help solve the country's crisis by setting up an "interim government and legislative assembly" within a few days.

Surachai Liangboonlertchai, who was elected new Senate speaker Friday, said Saturday that he was concerned about any confrontation between opposing sides and the Senate's priority should be to avoid bloodshed.

Surachai added that all senators should meet next week, after which he might invite heads of government agencies and political leaders to discuss ways out of the prolonged political crisis.