The Thai Rak Thai Party alleged yesterday the People's Alliance for Democracy and a political party were sending people to stir up trouble at public events attended by the prime minister.

"There is an organised movement for instigators to follow and scold Thaksin wherever he goes," ruling party spokesman Sita Divari said.

Some 10 to 20 provocateurs were present in nearly every province to lead anti-Thaksin protests on the PAD's behalf, Sita claimed. He refused to name the party involved.

He said it was inappropriate for opponents to attack the premier while he was performing official duties and not party activities.

"In one incident, verbal attacks were directed at the prime minister when he paid a visit to His Majesty the King in hospital," he said, and warned that national affairs should not be pushed to incite hatred.

"Provocateurs" had dogged Thaksin and triggered fights on Saturday and Sunday, he said, and repeated this at Central World shopping centre yesterday, he claimed.

"Ill-intentioned" people wanted to provoke violence without due consideration for the consequences, Sita alleged.

"Thaksin's opponents should exercise their rights through voting instead of trying to chase him out of office by force."

The PM's rivals should realise they were setting a bad example for democracy, he said, reminding them that the table would be turned if Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva formed the new government and faced daily protests.

Sita's deputy Jatuporn Phrom-phan said student Yurachat Chatsuthichai was linked to the PAD before he verbally condemned Thaksin on Saturday at Siam Paragon shopping centre.

Yurachat is seen as close to PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila and his father Chatchawal is linked with anti-Thaksin campaigner Sangsit Piriyarangsan and PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul, Jatuporn said.

Although Yurachat claimed the verbal assaults by protesters were unplanned, six key protesters attended a press conference organised by the PAD the following day, he said.

PAD spokesman Suriyasai said the latest verbal attacks were a new phenomenon triggered by awareness of the evils of Thaksin's regime.

"Thaksin is being haunted by the force of goodness which is coming to the fore spontaneously," Suriyasai said. The PAD was not masterminding the verbal assaults as the ruling party claimed, he said.

"The outburst of anti-Thaksin sentiment is not something organised and will likely persist until Thaksin bows out of politics," the PAD organiser said.