The move came after the government came under pressure by PTV operators who accused it of discrimination for allowing ASTV to air on Channel 11 even though the court has yet to rule if the television station has the right to broadcast.

However, Sondhi said during his programme last night that some ministers had showed their dissatisfaction about his programme with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont after he criticised their performance on air.

"Yam Fao Paendin" will continue broadcasting every day on ASTV starting from today.

Critics believe the Thai Rak Thai Party is behind the foundation of PTV and the government has been trying to block its launching. However, PTV has been defiant and is determined to start broadcasting tomorrow (Thursday).

In a related development, Siam University's dean of law Jade Donavanik said supporters of the ousted government had set up PTV as a ploy to win sympathy should authorities decide to shut it down.

"The founders of PTV know very well their station is illegal but have decided to go ahead with the unlawful broadcast because they want to politicise the issue," he said.

Jade reminded authorities that any hasty attempts to block the planned satellite broadcast scheduled for tomorrow would fall prey to the ploy.

The station's management, comprising former executives of Thai Rak Thai, is expected to exploit its plight to rally sympathisers and cite press freedom as a pretext to stirring up a legal wrangle against the government, he said.

 Meanwhile Council for National Security (CNS) chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin yesterday asked the government to initiate legal proceedings against Thai Rak Thai Party acting leader Chaturon Chaisang for alleged violations of a ban on party-related activities.

"Chaturon has been trying to gain the upper hand over the CNS by openly acting in defiance of the ban," CNS spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnoed said, summing up Sonthi's memorandum to the prime minister.

Sansern said Sonthi wanted three key agencies - the Interior Ministry, Royal Thai Police and the Election Commission (EC) - to look into Chaturon's trip to the Northeast last week and his planned visit to the North this weekend.

Interior officials, particularly provincial governors, should take proactive action to prevent the former ruling party from trying to sway villagers without prior authorisation from the CNS, he said.

The EC should caution the party for failing to comply with the ban, he added.

Chaturon said he would hold a press conference to clear his name.