The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand on February 10 offered to act as a mediator in talks between the Government and protesters in a renewed effort to resolve the political conflict and end the election deadlock.

Bangkok Post quoted EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn as saying that without talks by all political stakeholders, it was impossible to complete the election process and allow the House of Representatives to convene.

The talks should begin soon before the conflict widened and affected the Senate election scheduled to take place on March 30, he said, adding that such dialogue will take several rounds to bear fruit.

He was referring to the EC's failed attempt to bring all parties involved to talks before the Feb 2 polls. ''The government should assign importance to the talks or there will be new problems,'' he said.

The EC member also called on the government to wait and see the details of the EC's letter asking the government to issue a royal decree to set a new date for voting in the 28 constituencies in eight southern provinces which have no candidates.

Somchai added that the EC will meet EC officials in seven provinces on February 11 to discuss their readiness to hold a new round of voting.

The same day, the Thai caretaker government approved a draft royal decree that sets the election of senators for March 30, as proposed by the EC.

According to deputy government spokesperson Sunisa Lertpakawat, the candidacy registration of senatorial candidates will last from March 4-8. The draft royal decree will be submitted to the king for endorsement.

The election is expected to fill the seats of elected senators, whose six-year term will expire on March 31.

The Senate comprises 150 seats, with a senator elected from each of 77 provinces including the capital Bangkok , and the rest appointed.-VNA