The Army chief yesterday urged Thais to help bring an end to the political impasse paralysing the country, out of concern for the Monarch.

"His Majesty would be very unhappy while we are having this problem," General Sonthi Boonya-ratglin said.

The time had come for people to get together in an effort to end the crisis. Thais should have gratitude for the King, he said.

"Everyone must love each other" in order to end the damaging confrontation, he said.

The Army was not worried that the anti-government rally planned for next Tuesday would turn dangerous, as every party would try to avoid violence, he said.

Earlier in the day, National Police spokesman Achirawit Suphan-phesat said he submitted a personal letter to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra asking him not not resume his post even if he wins the April 2 election.

The police lieutenant general said his letter had one key suggestion - that the Democrat and Chat Thai parties must also contest the general election. He did not say if or how Thaksin responded to his idea, or whether he gave a letter with his idea to both parties.

Achirawit said he offered the idea 10 days ago as an ordinary citizen. The other conditions in his letter were that any party winning the majority of House seats should set up a reform committee to push through whatever legal amendments were needed within one year, and that the caretaker government overseeing the reform process should call another election.

"With all these made available, the country can still go on without a royally-appointed prime minister needed. We don't have to bother His Majesty the King to intervene [under the Constitution] but all the problems can be solved peacefully," he said.

Restoring calm would facilitate the celebration this year of the 60th anniversary of the King's ascension to the throne, he said.

Earlier he had another idea to solve the conflict between Thaksin and those trying to oust him. "We want to call on people to show their desire to see the return of peace in the country by turning on the headlights of their cars."

On Monday he said police had been "pushed to the limit". "While the protesters can visit the rallies in shifts, coming and going as they please, police are on constant call," he said.

Yesterday he repeated that the demonstrations were taking their toll.

"I am not speaking on behalf of the government, but all 220,000 police assigned to duty. They have been very tired because they work all day and night while the protests against the premier seem to never end."

All people wanted peace revived through talks involving all parties, he added.

The Civil Servants Association, meanwhile, has urged bureaucrats not to take sides.

"Civil servants must be neutral, refrain from associating with proponents or opponents of the government and continue to do their job," association chairman Jadul Apichatabutra said in a statement circulated yesterday.

Some civil servants could attend rallies but must do so in a personal capacity and not use their official position to sway the crowds.

With society becoming polarised by anti- and pro-government activities, civil servants should exercise restraint to avoid inflaming tensions, he said. The note came amid speculation the government was trying to exploit state mechanisms to mobilise armies of supporters.