The report quoted Thai Rak Thai defence lawyer Vichit Plangsrisakul as saying he had learnt about decisions by the tribunal's nine judges in favour of party dissolution: 6-3 for the Thai Rak Thai case and 5-4 for the Democrat case.

The tribunal is scheduled to rule on the cases on May 30. Three smaller political parties are co-defendants in the cases and may also face dissolution.

At their meeting yesterday, tribunal judges discussed the report in question and agreed that Vichit's comment was politically motivated, according to the source. The comment was possibly aimed at putting pressure on the tribunal, the source quoted the judges as saying.

"The judges have never voted on the cases because they want to keep their judgements confidential. They are afraid that a premature disclosure of their decisions would have an adverse effect on the country," the source said.

Vichit denied he had commented on the electoral fraud cases against the two major political parties.

"I'm not sure if it was a slip of the tongue or if the reporter who interviewed me for the report had some misunderstanding," the lawyer said yesterday.

"If I had made any comment about this matter, I would have said that the Thai Rak Thai would not be dissolved, and the 6-3 vote should be in favour of the party," he said.

Later, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was not convinced and his party was not swayed by the report.

"There has been a movement aimed at protecting some individuals' interest. I'm confident that the judicial process won't become a tool for these people," he said.