Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont rejected calls for emergency rule in Bangkok to crack down on anti-coup protests, following a two-hour discussion with the Council for National Security yesterday.

With political pressure building on his government, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont made it clear for the first time yesterday the next general election will be held in mid-December.

He said the authorities had also decided not to declare a state of emergency at the moment, but he would do that if he had no other options left.

"Now we are trying to create a good understanding among different groups in society in order not to let the situation to develop into a national crisis. I don't want to see confrontations or a showdown between Thai people," Surayud said.

"We will do our best to prevent [the need for state of emergency] from happening," he said.

Surayud stressed that as prime minister, he was empowered to declare a state of emergency.

Emergency powers would allow authorities to ban public gatherings, impose curfews and censor local news reports.

Earlier in the day, the Bangkok police announced a ban on public rallies at Sanam Luang following a meeting with city authorities and the military. Barricades were later set up around the public ground.

The PM was speaking at a news conference called at Government House in the evening after his meeting with Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and chairmen of the Constitution Drafting Assembly and the Election Com-mittee. The meeting lasted about two hours.

Surayud said the referendum on the new constitution would be held no later than September - within the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30.

He said it was agreed at the meeting the next general election would be held on a Sunday in December, either the 16th or 23rd.

"This schedule will go in line with the earlier promise [by the coup makers] to have an election organised within 2007," the premier said.

In recent weeks, supporters of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, particularly those involved with the banned PTV station, and detractors of the September coup have held public rallies at different locations in Bangkok.

There has been concern that these rallies had the potential to spark violence. And CNS chairman General Sonthi suggested two days ago that a state of emergency may be necessary to prevent a crisis that could derail drafting of a new constitution and the election.

The prime minister also rejected a rumour yesterday that he had become demoralised and was considering stepping down.

"I don't want to talk about this matter. The fact that I am standing here for this news conference should confirm that I remain in charge. I will continue working to the best of my ability in all the responsibilities," he said.

A few hours before Surayud's important meeting yesterday, he met with former prime minister Anand Panyarachun, who chaired a national reconciliation committee for the South, at Government House.

Anand declined to disclose what they discussed.

Woranaree Kosachan,

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation