General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, chairman of the Council for National Security, said yesterday he was studying relevant issues pertinent to a signature campaign launched by anti-coup protesters .

"I see the campaign as a form of political struggle, although I have to study the issue further," Sonthi said, referring to the campaign to remove Gen Prem Tinsulanonda from his post as president of Privy Council.

He said he has yet to decide whether it could be deemed offensive to the monarchy.

Sonthi also dismissed the allegation by anti-coup campaigners that Prem had been involved in the coup, saying he had seized power without anyone telling him to do so.

"The coup happened with the people's support and was not at the prodding of any individuals," he said.

Under suspended constitutions and Royal Palace precedents, the Privy Council is appointed at the discretion of His Majesty the King. No other institutions, public or private, have ever been involved in the matter.

Anti-coup campaigners said on Friday they planned to solicit about 100,000 signatures before submitting them to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary. Through late yesterday they had managed to gather about 2,000 signatures.

Junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said yesterday he was studying "pertinent issues" before he could form a decision on whether the campaign was appropriate.

"I see the campaign as a form of political struggle, although I have to study the issue further," Sonthi said, adding that he had yet to decide whether it could be deemed offensive to the monarchy.

Sonthi dismissed the allegation by anti-coup campaigners that Prem had been involved in the coup, saying he had seized power without anyone telling him to do so.

"The coup happened with the people's support and was not at the prodding of any individuals," he said.

In regard to Friday's anti-coup rally at City Hall's public ground, he said he was relieved it had been held peacefully. The crowds dispersed by themselves around 11pm.

"I think it is really up to the people: this kind of rally can persist if the people lend support to it," he said.

Protest organisers included PTV chairman Veera Musigapong, his allies, seen as staunch supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, and about a dozen advocacy groups under the anti-coup banner, such as the Saturday Anti-coup Group.

Although the PTV rally was the core of Friday's protest, PTV deputy chairman Jatuporn Prompan tried to distance his satellite-broadcasting station from the signature campaign against Prem.

The Saturday Group was the lead campaigner in the signature drive, and PTV had nothing to do with it, he said.

He added that PTV's next rally might not be held together with other anti-coup groups as previously planned.

Signature campaigners claimed that Prompan had signed the petition on Friday but withdrawn his name yesterday. They said the petition for Prem's removal would be submitted on Thursday.

Prem's supporters in his Songkhla home town distributed flyers calling for a stop to the signature campaign.

"Any attempt to smear Prem should stop before social divisions get worse," the flyers said.

Democrat Party deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr said he considered the signature campaign an act of disrespect.

"I see no reason for any individuals or parties to engage in a political game designed to disturb HM the King," he said.

Under the leadership of the Saturday Group, anti-coup protests continued for a second day and moved from City Hall to Sanam Luang yesterday.

City officials allowed the rally to proceed in a designated area until 10pm, even though Sanam Luang is officially off limits for public meetings until Thursday for security reason.

Meanwhile yesterday afternoon about 150 city police were sent to dismantle the stage of the anti-coup Phirab Khao (White Dove) group. Some of the group's members tried to prevent the dismantling but could not.

The group then gathered in another area in the large oval space and continued their protest without a stage or microphones. They were joined by about 30 passers-by.

The Phirab Khao Group is thought to have close ties with some key Thai Rak Thai figures.