BANGKOK, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Thailand's military leaders have voiced their support for proposals raised by many parties that caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his supporters as well as his critics use negotiations to end their differences for the sake of national reconciliation.

    Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen. Ruengroj Mahasaranond told journalists after paying a courtesy call on Gen.Prem Tinsulanond, the country's statesman and President of the Privy Council, at the latter's residence here Friday morning that he views the country's current political turmoil has not yet been out of control, as all parties have respected the democratic rule and have reacted within the democratic framework with no violence so far.

    "Apparently, nobody wants the situation to escalate. Everybody wants the nation to return to normalcy with peace and order, so why don't all conflicting parties concerned return to a negotiation table to seek ways to end the current political woes as suggested by many," he said.

    Ruengroj expressed his appreciation to the military's neutral response to the situation.

    He said he expected there would not be any undesirable incident at the next mass rally of anti-Thaksin groups planned on March 14, as the groups led the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had vowed to continue their movement peacefully.

    The armed forces chief, however, called for all parties to exercise restraint and to be thoughtful, saying he believed there would be nothing serious happening to the nation.

    Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said on Friday that Thaksin had agreed to talk with his critics and opponents, but at a negotiation table, not at a debate forum as proposed by some groups as it could be misguided to be an unfair platform for either of the two sides.

    He said the caretaker government is also considering proposals raised by various parties aimed to quickly end the current political crisis. Enditem