BANGKOK - Thailand's government stressed national reconciliation on Saturday after the worst riots in the country's modern history but it would not commit itself to the early election demanded by "red shirt" protesters. Troops continued their search for explosives and firefighters and doused the embers of a torched luxury mall as Bangkok tried to pick up the pieces after the rioting and arson that followed Wednesday's dispersal of thousands of "red shirts" by the military. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva highlighted a reconciliation plan in an address to the nation on Friday but made no mention of a November election, which he had proposed in early May as a way of ending the protests peacefully. Elections are not due to be called until the end of 2011. "The reconciliation plan itself, it will still proceed as indicated by the prime minister, although the election date is up to his discretion," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told reporters on Saturday. "Losses suffered by the public this week will be thoroughly investigated as it is a policy under national reconciliation." Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said on Friday he still expected an early poll, adding it was highly unlikely the government would stay in office for its full term. A 6 sq-km (2.3 sq-mile) area extending out from Bangkok's ritzy shopping district that the anti-government protesters had occupied was still under military control but government spokesman Panitan said traffic would be allowed back from Sunday. He also held out the prospect of an overnight curfew being lifted from Saturday. Financial markets, which were closed on Thursday and Friday, are likely to open on Monday, although a final decision is yet to be taken on the stock market. A fire broke out in the Thai Stock Exchange building during the protests and damage was still being assessed.
