Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday vowed to stay on as premier, despite mounting pressure for his resignation and rumours of a fresh coup. However, he did not rule out the possibility of his early exit if he encountered a "serious obstacle".

"I'm doing my best to solve the problems the country faces," he told Government House reporters on his first day back at work after three days in hospital for a medical check-up.

"If there is no serious obstacle affecting the way I work, I surely intend to deliver on my commitment," Surayud said.

However, he could not predict whether such an obstacle would arise in the next six months of his government's term.

Asked whether he would stay on until his government's term expired, Surayud insisted he was fully dedicated to his commitment to the nation. He said he would solve problems only through peaceful means.

If he cannot do it and the situation turns violent, however, he will have to keep his promise [to resign], he said.

"I don't want to see Thais fighting each other, which could eventually lead to bloodshed," Surayud said. "I am trying my best to prevent this happening."

There have been rumours that Surayud was pressured to resign following an alleged rift with Council for National Security (CNS) chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin over his refusal to declare a state of emergency to suppress anti-CNS protests. Some of the CNS's eight members were also rumoured to be planning a coup to oust Surayud.

"The CNS generals and I talked about the rumours before I flew to Japan [last week]; they said it was only a rumour," Surayud said.

Sonthi told him the CNS had no plans to dismiss him, he added.

A source close to Surayud said the premier told Sonthi and other CNS members in a recent meeting that they did not need to think about staging a coup, because he would quit immediately if asked to.

Surayud also countered an allegation by opponents of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra that he and the former prime minister had reached a deal to help Thaksin escape punishment.

He said Thaksin had called him twice, during which the discussion was about how peace could be brought back to the country.

"I told him he should return [to Thailand] after the election," Surayud said. "There's no hidden agenda."

Facing growing public dissatisfaction over his government's poor performance, Surayud said he was considering a Cabinet reshuffle to improve how it works. However, he did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, Thaksin's legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, yesterday also dismissed allegations by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) of a secret agreement between the ousted premier and his successor.

Noppadon told a press conference that his client had no agreement with Surayud but said Thaksin had told the premier he would not do anything that could be regarded as a political movement and would not return to the country at this time.

The PAD on Tuesday said Surayud's activities raised suspicions he had cut a deal to "go soft" on Thaksin.

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation