Thailand's anti-government protesters agreed yesterday to try to setde their differences with the government to prevent more bloodshed, raising hopes of an end to a tense crisis that has claimed 27 lives.

But the "Red Shirts” said they would not end their mass rally in the heart of the capital yet, calling on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to make clear when he will dissolve parliament for elections and to withdraw troops.

"Red Shirt leaders unanimously agree to join, and welcome, the reconciliation roadmap proposed by the prime minister to prevent further loss of life," protest leader Veera Musikapong announced from the rally stage.

Abhisit said in a nationally televised address late Monday that he was ready to hold elections in mid-November if all parties accepted his reconciliation plan.

But the protesters said the premier should

spell out when he will dissolve parliament and leave it to the Election Commission to set the poll date.

"We will continue the rally until Abhisit says clearly when he will dissolve the House. Then we will discuss our next move," another protest leader, Jatuporn Prompan, told reporters.

"Reconciliation must be achieved not by intimidation and the use of force but with complete freedom," he said.

Thai shares surged 4.37 percent as investors cheered signs of a breakthrough in the long-running impasse.

The protests by thousands of mosfly poor or working-class Reds — now in their eighth week — have paralysed Bangkok's commercial heart.

A series of deadly clashes between the demonstrators and security forces have left 27 people dead and nearly 1,000 wounded in the country's worst civil unrest in almost two decades.