"What is happening has no precedent in Thai politics and I cannot predict an ending," he said.

Banharn said embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had triggered the turmoil that had engulfed both him and the country, hence he must take the first step in seeking reconciliation with his opponents.

"Thaksin keeps saying he is bending over backwards to accommodate his opponents, but I see him marching forward towards confrontation," he said.

Banharn said Thaksin had to choose to reconcile with the alliance of opposition forces or face a perilous future.

He said political chaos had broken out after Thaksin hastily dissolved the House of Representatives last month without anticipating the dire consequences of the move.

The next blunder was the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party trying to take advantage of the snap election at the expense of the three opposition parties - the Democrats, Chat Thai and Mahachon.

The final straw was that Thaksin had gone back on his promise to enter into a pact with the opposition to jointly initiate political reform, the Chat Thai leader said, explaining the events leading to the opposition's boycott of the April 2 poll.

Although the ruling party can proceed alone with the general election, troubling signs have emerged that the election outcome will deepen rather than solve the conflict, he said.

Should Thaksin continue to fight on, the opposition would maintain its boycott of the poll, Banharn said, adding there was no reason to postpone a vote that is a political farce.

Given the prevailing tension, Thaksin sent out the wrong message by riding on an elephant during campaigning this week in Surin. This signalled war, not reconciliation, he said.