Chaturon calls on PM to quit

"Action should be taken before the party is dissolved so MPs have the chance to regroup and the country's administration is not disrupted," he said.

Chaturon said it was a foregone conclusion that the Constitution Court would disband the PPP, though repercussions from the dissolution of this party would be worse than what happened after Thai Rak Thai was disbanded.

He called upon pro-government crowds to cancel their plan to rally outside the High Court today, saying that the demonstration might backfire and pave the way for a coup. The case will be brought to an end today, and the pro-government group wanted to protest against any unfavourable verdict.

In addition, he said, the Constitution had several provisions that could be manipulated to the pave way for a dictatorship, adding that some of the government's opponents, particularly the People's Alliance of Democracy, wanted to do just that.

He went on to say that he was against the idea of forming a national unity government because it would infringe upon the principles of democracy, because installing a non-elected government was against the Constitution.

Chaturon advised Somchai and the coalition leaders to preempt the dissolution and have a new government in place before the party is dissolved, adding that several PPP MPs were receptive to this idea.

With regards to speculation that Privy Councillor Palakorn Suwannarat might be made the prime minister of a non-elected government, he said disagreed with any attempts to tamper with the electoral process.