The government is ready to join peaceful talks to end the political crisis, but any discussions must be in line with the constitution, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday.
That rules out the possibility of a live, one-on-one televised debate with protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, she said.
And while Ms Yingluck admitted she was no match for Mr Suthep as a debater, she mounted a spirited defence of the stand she has taken. She said she was "ready to die ... to protect democracy" if need be.
Mr Suthep, secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), should agree to take part in negotiations within the scope of the constitution if he had any real intention of putting an end to the political standoff by peaceful means, she said.
"I am not a skillful speaker and have no ability to debate with Mr Suthep," she admitted in response to the challenge Mr Suthep issued on Thursday.
Ms Yingluck argued that settling political problems would be very difficult if each side sets its own conditions for talks.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pays her respects to Phra That Doi Kham in Chiang Mai on Friday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Legal issues could preclude a televised debate as well, since technically, the election has not been completed. The caretaker premier's appearance on TV could be seen as giving her Pheu Thai Party an unfair edge.
In addition, commentators question whether any constructive discussion could take place, given the intensity of the personal attacks and insults being hurled by speakers on both sides.
Ms Yingluck, meanwhile, reiterated that she would not step down from her post because she is duty-bound to maintain the rule of law.
"As a caretaker defence minister, I am ready to die on the battlefield to protect the nation like other soldiers," she said. "And as a caretaker prime minister, I am also ready to die on the democratic field to protect democracy.
"I will not allow anyone to tear up the constitution."
Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the current political atmosphere provided an opportunity for the caretaker prime minister to prove her leadership in three areas.
The first, he said, was to prove herself by entering negotiations with Mr Suthep, a former Democrat MP, so she can show her ability to find a solution for the country.
The negotiation would also prove that Ms Yingluck was not a puppet of her brother, the ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said Mr Chavanond.
Ms Yingluck, he added, should not set a condition that the PDRC must end its protest for talks to take place.
The second issue is that Ms Yingluck and Pheu Thai should prove themselves by not rejecting the scrutiny of independent agencies, particularly the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
Some red-shirt supporters of the government this week padlocked the doors of the NACC. They believe Pheu Thai should not cooperate in any investigation of the government's loss-plagued rice pledging programme.
The third area in which Ms Yingluck could show leadership, the Democrat spokesman said, would be in reducing the level of violence by red-shirt supporters.
Despite the wide gulf between the two sides, the fact that anyone, particularly Mr Suthep, is even talking about negotiations has offered a glimmer of hope.
Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, a member of the Election Commission, said on Friday that it was a good sign that both sides had the will to negotiate though differences remained on the conditions.
However, Chalerm Yubamrung, director of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order, rejected the idea of talks. He said Ms Yingluck should not dignify Mr Suthep since he faces an arrest warrant for insurrection.
However, he said it was up to Ms Yingluck to make a decision and he would respect that.