"Fellow Thais are coming to the capital in peace and I am confident there will be no violent confronta-tion," he said.

Chidchai also ruled out specula-tion that protesters might try to block the Government House entrance when embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived for work.

Thaksin is scheduled to resume work at his office today for the first time after the protesters surround-ed the seat of government on Monday morning. He returned last night from his campaign trial in the Northeast.

Chidchai said protests were tak-ing place in an orderly manner, and he did not anticipate trouble as long as protest organisers comply with laws and traffic rules.

"So far I am not worried, although I would like to remind protesters to stay vigilant because a third party might instigate vio-lence," he said.

Asked if he was ready to replace Thaksin, he said he did not think his boss had picked him as a successor.

"I have had no time to think far ahead," he said, emphasising that he has no political ambition. "To every suggestion about my political appointment, I listen and smile as I remain the same person with the same phone number," he said.