Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered two ministers to set up a "people's forum" bringing together academics and legal experts to discuss how to resolve the long-running political conflict, government spokesman Teerat Rattanasevi said.
Ms Yingluck proposed the forum in response to the People's Democratic Reform Committee's (PDRC) call for the establishment of a people's assembly, he said.
Mr Teerat said the prime minister appointed Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana and Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri to oversee the forum at today's cabinet meeting. She stressed the need for all sectors to come together to help end the political protests through negotiation and other peaceful channels, he said.
The cabinet also assigned Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong, Deputy Public Health Minister Sorawong Thienthong, Social Security and Human Security Minister Pavena Hongsakula and PM's Office Minister Santi Prompat to visit and oversee care for those injured in protests over the past few days.
Mr Teerat said managers of government offices where officials were still unable to return to work because of the protests have been advised to make internal arrangements for staff to perform their duties from other locations.
The spokesman said the prime minister admitted that the situation rermains volatile.
Ms Yingluck also told the cabinet that she had asked Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul to take over from Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok as chief of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) because she wants him to explain the situation in Thailand to countries around the world. Pol Gen Pracha still sits on Capo, she added.
Speaking about being tasked with setting up Ms Yingluck's "people's forum" in a television interview, Mr Pongthep said government had not accepted PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban's demand that a people's assembly be established because it was unconstitutional.
He said that he and Mr Chaikasem have been asked to gather people's opinions to find a solution to the conflict that is backed by the law and the majority of people.
Mr Pongthep said legal amendments might be part of the answer, since Mr Suthep has also called for charter changes.
It would be good if Mr Suthep could attend the opinion forum and clearly explain his people's assembly concept, he added.