Former Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva has launched a renewed effort to find a "way-out for the country" from a prolonged political crisis.

The ex-premier and current leader of the Democrat Party said on Friday his effort will only last 10 days and will not be extended beyond May 4.

Abhisit said he has publicly offered to open talk with all parties concerned, including the caretaker government headed by acting Premier Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, former exiled leader Thaksin Shinawatra, in bid to find "the way-out for the country" besieged by anti-government street protests over the past few months.

His peace bid, which he said will last 10 days from Friday, is primarily designed to keep "political reforms" compatible with a new election. The leader of the Democrat Party, which boycotted the Feb. 2 nationwide polls, did not elaborate on the " compatibility" between the "political reforms" and the election, however.

The new election is probably coming up in July following last month's ruling by the Constitutional Court of the previous one as "null and void."

"The way-out for the country from the political crisis might somehow refer to ways and means to keep the reforms compatible with the election. Under no circumstances will any talk about personal or partisan gains, such as the (aborted) amnesty legislation, be included," he said.

The blanket amnesty bill, allegedly designed to bring the fugitive Thaksin back home, had drawn overwhelming protests from opposition legislators and members of the public and partly prompted Yingluck to dissolve parliament last December.

Abhisit said the 10-day effort might probably be the "last attempt" for peace among the opposing sides of the political circle.

"If this effort was not successful over the period of 10 days from today, there would be no more effort...I can talk about the effort to find the way-out with everyone. Maybe, I'll talk with Khun Thaksin via Skype," he said.

The ex-premier added that he will hold talk with supreme commander Gen Thanasak Patimapakorn on Monday while he was talking with Undersecretary for Justice Kittipong Kitiyarak on Friday.

However, he said he will not talk with leaders of any street demonstrators such as anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and pro-government Red Shirt leader Chatuporn Prompand anytime soon.

While the Democrats and anti-government protesters have persistently called for "political reforms" ahead of the election, the Yingluck government has insisted that the new race to parliament be held as soon as possible under democratic rule which calls for the picking of a post-election prime minister from among elected lawmakers.

According to the Election Commission, the nationwide polls to replace the previous ones which had been disrupted in part by the anti-government protesters will be held in July at the earliest.

The commission had proposed three tentative election dates - either July 20 or Aug. 17 or Sept. 14 - for all the political parties intending to contest the election to choose but no conclusion has been reached so far. The commissioners are scheduled to discuss the issue with the caretaker government next Wednesday.

They are yet to consult with the authorities in charge of security affairs about ways and means to organize the election in a peaceful and fair fashion in all parts of the country, following the previous one which had been marked by street turbulence and standoffs between anti-election demonstrators and pro-election constituents or police.

The polling agency will likely allow electoral candidates to apply via internet other than in person to avoid being forcibly thwarted by anti-government protesters as had been the case in southern constituencies during the previous election. Endi

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