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Thaksin offers to set up committee to resolve standoff

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawa-tra yesterday offered to set up an independent committee to resolve the country's political impasse and vowed to accept any decision it might render -- including a demand for his resignation.

Thaksin said he was willing to set up a neutral committee comprised of three former prime ministers, three former supreme court chairmen and three former heads of parliament to represent different points of view in the crisis, which revolves around demands by his critics that he step down because of alleged corruption and abuse of power.

He also said his party gained more than 50 percent of the popular vote in Thailand's general election, although its vote total declined from last year's polls.

Thaksin had vowed before the polls to step down if his party received less than 50 percent of the votes cast. He spoke on a talk show on government-operated TV Channel 11.

Thaksin said his party received 16 million, or 57 percent out of 28 million votes cast on Sunday.

A Thai television station's own tally of the vote earlier yesterday had indicated that his Thai Rak Thai -- Thai Love Thai -- party had received 44.4 percent of the popular vote nationwide in Sunday's general election, with 85 percent counted.
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