Thai PM offers to hold fresh polls, opposition MPs quit

Thailand's embattled premier Yingluck Shinawatra today offered to dissolve Parliament and hold fresh elections within 60 days, even as opposition MPs resigned en masse to join the anti-government protests ahead of tomorrow's "D-Day" rally to oust her.
"I'm ready to resign and dissolve parliament if that is what majority of the Thai people want," she said in a special televised programme to defuse the over two-week long crisis.
She, however, warned that the political crisis would prolong if the protesters reject her offer.
"We should conduct a referendum so that people can decide what we should do," said the 46-year-old prime minister who came to power in 2011.

Unmoved by Yingluck's proposal, the opposition Democrat Party said its 153 MPs were resigning from the 500-seat lower house - a move that does not prevent the ruling Puea Thai party from passing new laws but leaves parliament facing questions about its legitimacy.
"We performed our duty in parliament as best we could," Democrat leader and former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said. "We cannot do any more. We regret that the majority in parliament betrays the voice of the people."

"House dissolution is one way of returning power to the people. But there must be a solution to make people confident in the election," Abhisit said.

Sathit Wongnongtoey, a core rally leader, challenged Yingluck to dissolve the lower house of parliament right away and suggested to set up a People's Council to reform politics.
Nine Democrat MPs had already resigned when the massive protests against the government began last month.
Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister and the leader of the anti-government protesters, has called for a final "blow" tomorrow to force Yingluck out of power.
Commenting on the proposed protests, Yingluck said she was ready to listen to the protesters' demands in order to find acceptable solutions, the Nation online reported.
"I'm willing to listen to proposals from the protesters. I'm not addicted to this title," she said.

Authorities are planning to deploy hundreds of police personnel tomorrow to protect key state buildings.
Suthep, who is facing an arrest warrant for anti-government activities, has said he would turn himself in if the protesters could not topple the government.