Core leaders of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai have refused to give in, vowing to set up a new party as soon as the law permits, with Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Boonklee Plang-siri and Surapong Suebwonglee emerging as potential candidates as the party leader.

A former cabinet member of Thai Rak Thai said once the group can set up a new party it would wait for ousted former party leader Thaksin Shina-watra to choose the new leader. He cited former prime minister Chavalit, Boonklee, a former Shin Corp chief, and Surapong, a former ICT minister and government spokesman, as candidates who might step in to revive the new Thai Rak Thai.

At the same time, Chaturon Chaisang, Thai Rak Thai's acting leader who was among those banned from politics by the Constitution Tribunal's rulings on Wednesday, has continued to campaign for a revival of Thai Rak Thai but under a different name. He said since the party had been dissolved, followers of the party would call themselves Thai Rak Thai Group ("klum Thai Rak Thai").

Speaking after a meeting, Chaturon said about 300 former party MPs had put forward their names in support of retaining the party name, but they would now work as the "Thai Rak Thai Group".

"We ask all former MPs to visit our supporters regularly and try to encourage and comfort them. We have to show unity to get their support and register a new party," he said.

The Constitution Tribunal handed down a landmark verdict on Wednesday that disbanded the Thai Rak Thai for election fraud and barred 111 executive members of the country's largest party from politics for five years. The rulings amount to a dramatic shake-up of Thai politics.

Chaturon said around 200 former MPs would be able to carry out active political duties. The others were former executives who had been banned for five years.

He said some members who had quit the party, such as the Matchima, Thamma-thipatai and Ban Rim Nam groups, had told him they would like to return to Thai Rak Thai. He claimed his group had the largest number of former MPs.

Chaturon said his group would file an appeal against the Constitution Tribunal's ruling that banned 111 Thai Rak Thai executives for five years.

Banned party member Chamlong Krutkunthod said the group would first try to register a new party with the old name. It would then try to find a way to appeal the Tribunal's verdict. The group realised this may be impossible, but it would gain some political benefit, he conceded. "We may ask for a royal pardon or seek an am-nesty from the National Legislative Assembly," he said.

Thai Rak Thai sympathisers said yesterday they planned to petition His Majesty the King to forgive the party's executives for complicity in election fraud.

Sudchat Somchai, a leader of the Saturday People Against Dictatorship, said the group had found the verdict against the Thai Rak Thai to be unfair.

He said a signature campaign would likely form to seek a royal pardon for the executives, who each face a five-year ban from politics as a result of the landmark verdict winding down the party.

At a rally held by the banned PTV, political activist Sudchai Boonchai said he would join others in launching a campaign to collect at least 50,000 signatures in an bid to win a royal pardon for the barred politicians.

He said the campaign was not aimed at helping Thaksin Shinawatra, the former premier and Thai Rak Thai leader, but rather at protecting democracy.

Chaturon said the group would submit a letter to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Monday, demanding that the Council for National Security (CNS) either amend or remove Announcements 15 and 27, which ban all kinds of political activity.

After that the group would submit a letter to the Election Commission asking to reserve the Thai Rak Thai name for registration.

Junta chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin said the CNS would maintain the coup orders that ban activities by political parties for at least two more weeks.

Sonthi said he would have to consult with the government before lifting the ban, but the CNS would monitor the situation for two weeks before considering the issue.

Meanwhile, former TRT deputy Somkid Jatusripitak, who was picked to lead the Thammathipatai Group, would remain with that faction despite being banned from politics for five years, former TRT MP Pimol Sriwikorn said.

"The Thammathipatai Group still exists. Somkid asked us not to be discouraged even though some of us, including him, have been banned," he said.

The Matchima Group will discuss its political future today.