Briefly World

Thai Red Shirts pull out of talks

BANGKOK: Hopes for a swift,peaceful resolution to Thailand’s political crisis were dashed on Saturday when the Prime Minister rejected a compromise proposal for dissolving Parliament in 30 days and protesters hit back by withdrawing from negotiations. “If you’re going to hand us an ultimatum… this is not negotiating,” he told reporters,adding that he feared the Opposition demands would only grow if the government capitulated.

Gunmen kill six cops in Mexico

CIUDAD JUAREZ: A municipal police officer reacts as she is comforted by fellow officers after they were ambushed by gunmen in the border city of Ciudad Juarez on Friday. At least six policemen and a 17-year-old girl were killed in the ambush,said police.

Abbas urges Obama to impose peace deal

RAMALLAH: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas urged President Barack Obama on Saturday to impose a West Asia peace deal. In a speech to leaders of his Fatah movement,the Palestinian President said: “Since you,Mr President and you,the members of the American administration,believe in this,it is your duty to call for the steps in order to reach the solution and impose the solution — impose it,” Abbas said.

Airlines: Give seats to those stranded

LONDON: Airlines appealed to passengers to give up their seats to stranded travelers Saturday,as carriers across Europe attempted to clear a backlog of tourists grounded by the ash cloud spewed from Iceland’s volcano. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic appealed for passengers booked on long-haul flights to consider giving up their seat to make way for travelers still stuck following flight disruptions.

Brown ‘upping the tempo‘

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Saturday he was “upping the tempo” with just under two weeks to go before the May 6 general election in which he is battling to avoid being kicked out of office. “As you get nearer to election day you are always upping the tempo,” Brown told reporters travelling with him to Corby. “Of course we are upping the tempo. We are upping the tempo today and tomorrow.” The Daily Mail/Harris Poll put the Tories on 34 per cent,the Liberal Democrats on 29 per cent and Labour on 26 per cent.