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Thai protesters say open to talks to avert bloodshed


    BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai anti-government protesters occupying an upmarket commercial area are willing to hold talks through a third party to avert bloody clashes with troops, two of its leaders said on Wednesday.

    The supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told Reuters a military crackdown was imminent and they would now consider offers of dialogue, but not from the government.

    "We believe a crackdown is coming before April 25 and we need to make a compromise," said one leader, Kwanchai Praina. "I will propose in a meeting later today that we consider house dissolution in three months."

    (Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan and Bill Tarrant; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Jason Szep)