Briefly

THAILAND

Abhisit offers to dissolve parliament

BANGKOK | Thailand’s prime minister said Thursday he would dissolve parliament in September, paving the way for new elections demanded by anti-government protesters if they end their crippling occupation of Bangkok’s commercial district.

However, in a sign of the deep mistrust between the opposing sides, the demonstrators said they would not go home until the government made its promise official and specified a date for the legislature’s dissolution.

On Monday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva unveiled a road map to reconciliation that included an offer of new elections on Nov. 14 - about a year before his term would end - if they pulled out of their barricaded encampment in the heart of the Thai capital.

Leaders of the anti-government movement, known as the Red Shirts, welcomed that plan, which takes into account the protesters’ main grievances. It includes respect for the monarchy, reforms to resolve economic injustice, free but responsible media to be overseen by an independent watchdog agency, independent investigations of violent incidents connected with the protests, and amendment of the constitution to be more fair to all political parties.

The nearly two-month standoff in Bangkok has paralyzed vital areas of the capital, hammered the economy, decimated the tourist industry and ground government machinery to a near halt. Clashes with soldiers and other violence have killed 27 people and injured nearly 1,000.

AFGHANISTAN

Karzai to remake image in Washington

KABUL | In Washington next week, President Hamid Karzai will work to recast his image as a mercurial leader prone to outbursts against the West into one of a credible partner worthy of the thousands of U.S. troops and billions of dollars of aid still pouring into his nation in its ninth year of war.

After months of rocky relations with the Obama administration, the U.S. and Mr. Karzai are getting their partnership back on track. If he’s successful in the visit, which starts Monday, the Afghan president will leave Washington with renewed legitimacy and the political backing he needs for possible peace talks with the Taliban.

The trip comes at a critical juncture in the war. At the same time that more troops and aid are moving into Afghanistan, the U.S. has made it clear that its involvement is not open-ended. President Obama, who gathered his national security team to discuss Afghanistan and Pakistan on Thursday at the White House, wants to start pulling out troops in July 2011 if conditions allow. That’s 15 months from now.

Mr. Karzai is traveling to Washington with nearly a dozen members of his Cabinet who will hold in-depth discussions with their counterparts about development priorities and other issues. Showing up with these ministers - many with strong backing from the international community - will help Mr. Karzai make the point that while bribery and graft are rife in some ministries, there are many Cabinet officials committed to progress and reform.