Prayuth, Suthep, Jatuporn to meet

The military's Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC), headed by army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha, invited senior leaders of the different sides of the political divide to a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, reports said.

Gen Prayuth calls all leaders in the political conflict to a meeting on Wednesday afternoon. (Bangkok Post file photos)

The meeting, initiallly set for 1.30pm, was due to begin at 2.30pm at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok, the reports said.

Those invited to the meeting included pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) chairman Jatuporn Prompan, anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, Pheu Thai Party leader Jarupong Ruangsuwan, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Election Commission (EC) chairman Supachai Somcharoen and acting Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai.

Participants at the meeting were granted temporary immunity against criminal proceedings under a POMC order.

That immunity, covering the area of the Army Club and its vicinity, was effective from 1pm until the meeting ends and the participants depart.

Early Tuesday, the Royal Thai Army declared martial law across the country to "prevent bloodshed" and to use the law as a lever to get all sides in the politcal conflict to negotiate and break the months-long deadlock.

According to preliminary reports, the attendees to the May 21, 2014 meeting hosted by the Peace and Order Maintaining Command are as follows: