Continued violence may risk Thailand's collapse: army chief

[BANGKOK] Thailand's army chief warned yesterday that the country risks "collapse" unless it pulls back from escalating violence after attacks in recent days left three children dead in the kingdom's worst political unrest since 2010.

"As days go by, there will be more violence until it cannot be controlled," army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha warned in a rare televised live speech. "If losses continue, the country will collapse for sure and nobody will win or lose."

General Prayut urged reconciliation and talks. He said that troops are "ready to do their duty" but "do not want to use force and weapons to unnecessarily fight with the Thai people". He did not elaborate. The army chief's comments are closely scrutinised for signs of possible intervention.