Theppanom Siriwithayarak, chairman of the Assembly of North-eastern Farmers, said the decision came after talks with a Council for National Security (CNS) leader. CNS deputy secretary-general and assistant Army commander General Saprang Kalayanamitr has been assigned to mediate with protest leaders.

Saprang yesterday confirmed that Theppanom and Isaan Liberation Front leader Thaikorn Polsuwan had agreed to cancel their rally next Sunday in Bangkok.

Saprang accepted a request for government assistance to rice farmers.

He reaffirmed the junta's promise to hold elections within a year of the September 19 coup.

Both north-eastern leaders said they and as many as 300 supporters would still attend Constitution Day celebrations in the capital on December 10.

"I will no longer accept former ministers' money to organise demonstrations to oust the government and the CNS. I have talked to General Saprang now, and he has accepted our requests," he said.

Theppanom admitted he had previously agreed to take money from former ministers and northeastern members of parliament to stage an anti-coup rally.

He denied knowing Chanapat na Nakhon.

Chanapat heads a group calling itself People for Democracy. He claims it will attract 30,000 to the rally at Democracy Monument next Sunday.