Meanwhile, as resignations from the party continued unabated, a deputy spokesman denied that Thaksin, who stepped down as leader on Tuesday, would also quit.

Former party executive Ekaporn Rakkwamsuk said Sudarat had refused to take over as leader, giving rise to rumours that Chaturon would accept the post. The news came as another rumour spread that Sudarat planned to quit the party completely.

But an unnamed party source said later Chaturon also was not prepared to take the helm.

Next in line in the party's pecking order is another deputy leader Chaiyot Sasomsub, a deputy Finance minister in the deposed government.

Although executives and MPs were continuing to abandon the party, some former officials still retained their confidence. They said the party would be popular again after the Surayud government's tenure ends.

Former party executive Ekaporn Rakkwamsuk said many former MPs in the North, Isaan and Bangkok had told him they would stand as party candidates again. However, they would await the new Constitution before making any move in order to be fully aware of the rules.

"If the prohibition on political assembly is lifted, the party's supporters will certainly support it as before," Ekaporn said.

"Thai Rak Thai has all kinds of people. Some were admired but condemned as followers of a tyrant. I want Thai Rak Thai members to understand and be confident. A political party is not completely bad. It must have something good," he said.

Former Thai Rak Thai executive Weerakorn Khamprakob said MPs were resigning from the party because they wanted to ease people's worries about mobs being incited to protest against the junta government. They would re-join the party once the political system returned to normal.

The party issued a press release listing yesterday's resignations, which included former deputy Interior minister Sermsak Pong-panit and former MP Wuttichai Sanitwongchai.

Thai Rak Thai registrar Saman Lertwongrat said he had received the resignations of ex-party-list MP Chetta Thanajaro and former Sukhothai MP Somjate Limpa-bandhu. General Yuthasak Sasi-prapha had also resigned.

Yuthasak, a former deputy Defence minister in the Thaksin government, said he would dedicate his time to sports activities, Saman said. Yuthasak is president of the Olympic Committee of Thailand.

Samatcha Hoonsara

 The Nation