"The crisis has reached a dangerous phase in which many people are bent on rejecting the new constitution even before reading it," he said. In other countries, drafting a constitution is a way to chart a future course, but in Thailand it appears to further complicate the situation, making it irresolvable, he said.

To dissipate tension he suggested the government organise a national seminar to solicit ideas on what the new constitution should be like. Participants should include all political parties, because politicians of all stripes remain close to constituents, hence they are in the best position to reflect people's aspirations, he said.

The government could consider asking as many as 100,000 local leaders, including village headmen, to contribute ideas for the new constitution, he added. Thai Rak Thai Party acting leader Chaturon Chaisang criticised the prime minister and the junta chief for making provocative comments designed to inflame the situation.

"In the past few weeks, Surayud Chulanont and General Sonthi Boonyaratglin have both been making remarks contrary to their professed stand for national reconciliation," Chaturon said. Junta leader Sonthi recently claimed hundreds of thousands of people were ready to back him if his opponents stepped up street protests, Chaturon said. He deemed such remarks an incitement to clash.

He went on to attack Surayud for blaming ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for the government's problems.

"I call on Surayud and Sonthi to speak in a more conciliatory tone, and my party will try to help keep the situation under control," he said.

He said his party had ceased all activities which might be construed as applying pressure on judicial decisions in the electoral-fraud hearings. A decision is scheduled for May 30.

He dismissed speculation that he had approached former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to retain party loyalty in the Northeast.

Government spokesman Yong-yuth Mayalarp was optimistic political protests planned for May would not turn unruly.

"Every month many speculate about tensions and protests getting out of control, and things turn out peacefully, leading me to believe that May will not be any different," he said.

He cited government responsiveness to opposing opinions in the year marking His Majesty the King's 80th birthday as a reason political turbulence would not come to pass.

He added that the prime minister had been clear that any return home by Thaksin could happen after the general election.