After opposition leaders on Wed-nesday welcomed advice from His Majesty the King and said they would cooperate fully, Banharn yesterday flew to Hong Kong for an indefinite stay with his family and his deputy Weerasak Kowsurat.

He said he had planned the trip three months ago. He dismissed suggestions he planned to meet Thaksin, who is now abroad and will be in China at about the same time.

"If you want to know anything [about the meeting] you should ask Thaksin. Just give me some time to eat shark fin soup with my family," he said.

Banharn said on his return he would enter into discussions with former opposition parties on contesting another election.