Thai government ready for talks with Red Shirts

Thailand's government urged "Red Shirt" protesters Thursday to return to the negotiating table as the army cleared abandoned armoured vehicles from Bangkok's streets after deadly weekend clashes.

The red-clad demonstrators hunkered down in Bangkok's commercial heart, preparing for a final showdown with the authorities in their effort to force immediate elections to replace Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government.

"If the government still wants to retake this area, we can do nothing except wait. We have overcome fear. Nothing can scare us anymore," said a Reds leader, Nattawut Saikuar.

The death toll from Thailand's worst political violence in almost two decades rose to at least 23 people, 18 of whom died from gunshot wounds, emergency services said as the government called for fresh negotiations.

"The government is ready to talk whenever the Reds want, but the Reds said they don't want to," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

"All political conflicts end at the negotiating table," he told AFP.

Saturday's clashes erupted as the army tried unsuccessfully to clear an area in Bangkok's old city, sparking street battles involving soldiers, red-clad protesters and unidentified gunmen described as "terrorists" by the government.

Leaders of the red-clad movement have said there is no point in further talks, demanding immediate elections.

Negotiations last month between the two sides ended in stalemate after the Reds rejected the government's compromise offer to hold polls at the end of this year.