Thaksin said he wanted peace and would meet Banharn to find a solution for the sake of the country.

After refusing on Monday to be a peacemaker, Banharn yesterday said he would meet Thaksin to discuss a political reconciliation.

"If the prime minister really wants it [reconciliation], I have to talk to him," Banharn said.

If Thaksin's plan for reconciliation is useful, he will co-operate but if he found it too problematic he will say he is incapable, he said. The meeting will be private, he said.

"We often have a face-to-face talk, often over a shark-fin soup dinner, but the talks are fruitless," he said.

Asked if he would allow the press to be present, Banharn said reporters should not be around at this stage as they would interfere in the process.

Asked if he believed Thaksin was sincere about reconciliation, Banharn said he was trying to believe so.

Thaksin called for a political reconciliation on Saturday during his weekly radio programme. Banharn, though, said on Monday it was too late for him to be the middleman and reconciliation would not be possible unless the election commissioners stepped down.