Banharn, who had dinner with Thaksin on Thursday night in their first meeting for three months, said Thaksin wanted to see reconciliation in the country.

"I suggested he could reduce the level of hostility by not spending too much money in the next election and speaking with great caution, as his statements often fuel conflict. And he agreed," Banharn said.

Banharn asked his deputy leader Somsak Prissanananthakul to coordinate with other opposition parties about reconciliation. He said he had spoken with Thaksin about his taking a political break, but he could not force him to answer.

 Thaksin said he and Banharn would do what duty required to pave the way for reconciliation in the upcoming poll and the next round of political reform. He denied they had talked about political rigging between their parties.

 A Thai Rak Thai official said Thaksin had to meet Banharn alone because his deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan was unable to attend. After Thaksin dissolved the House for the April 2 election, he ordered Sudarat to ask the opposition parties to stand in the election but she could not deliver. The official said Thaksin was confident Banharn could make the opposition parties cooperate.