Speaking on the programme "Thung Look Thung Kon", Abhisit said Thaksin had first agreed to a live debate before changing his mind overnight. "How can we be sure that after the closed-door meeting, he will not change [his tune again]?'' the Democrat leader said. Abhisit said the opposition would not backtrack on its decision to boycott the general election because such a move would only serve to whitewash Thaksin.

Abhisit said that even though major opposition parties were not contesting the general election, allegations of electoral wrongdoing had been rife. A new election is not the solution for the current stalemate, he said.

"What is obvious is there was a meeting in Bangkok. Some MP candidates have not been members for [at least] 90 days [before the election as constitutionally required], but they said they could handle it. Some parties invited some people as honorary members but they never reported this [to the authorities],'' he said.

Chat Thai Party deputy secretary-general Somsak Prissanananthakul said the party supported a proposal by the People's Network for Elections (P-net) that government, opposition and anti-government leaders meet on March 24.

PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva said the government disagreed with the proposal because it would bring the three sides into new confrontations.

He recommended a closed-door meeting, which could yield a better conclusion.

He said the Thai Rak Thai Party was interested in negotiations organised by the University Rectors of Thailand, but that the details of the meeting were yet to be discussed.