Thai protesters call for talks as clashes leave 31 dead

Thailand's "Red Shirt" protesters appealed in vain yesterday for UN-mediated talks with the government after three days of violent street battles in the capital left 31 people dead and 230 wounded.

Loud explosions and volleys of gunshots rang out into the night near the rally site and three commercial buildings were gutted by fire.

A top protest leader urged the revered king to intervene in the crisis, which has turned areas of the city of 12 million people into no-go zones as troops use live ammunition against demonstrators, some of them armed.

The Reds, whose vast base in the heart of Bangkok is under siege by troops, said they were ready to enter peace talks with the government "immediately" as long as the United Nations mediated.

"We want the UN because we don't trust we will receive justice from organisations in Thailand," protest leader Nattawut Saikuar said as the death toll from the urban warfare jumped by seven yesterday.

The idea was quickly shot down by the government, which has repeatedly warned foreign governments not to meddle in its affairs.

"No governments allow any organisations to intervene in their internal affairs," spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said. Previous talks between the two sides have failed to reach an agreement, despite an offer - since withdrawn - by the embattled premier to hold elections in November if the opposition demonstrators go home. Authorities said they would send workers from the Red Cross to help protesters - particularly women, children and the elderly - who want to leave the vast protest area in the heart of the capital by 3 p.m. (0800) today.