Suthep said the fact Thaksin claimed to know who was in the running to become the next prime minister was a clear indication the Thai Rak Thai Party's founder was still pulling strings behind the scenes.

Suthep said Thaksin would never allow supposedly independent organisations to operate above politics, and went on to warn of more civil unrest if things didn't change fast.

"People won't accept it if political reform does not proceed," he said.

"That's because people are more politically aware now . . . not only in the South but in the Northeast and Chiang Mai as well, where many opted for a 'no vote' [in the April 2 election]," said Suthep, comparing Thaksin with a company chairman looking to hire the next prime minister.

The Democrat secretarygeneral said Thaksin's decision not to hold on to the prime minister's post was nothing more than a tactical retreat, adding that the rest of the Thai Rak Thai MPs put together were incapable of deciding who the next PM should be.

As for how long the Thaksin system of politics - socalled "Thaksinocracy" - will prevail, Suthep urged to public to keep a close eye on April 30, the day the current Election Commission's mandate to manage an election expires.

He said if there was no quorum of 500 MPs by then, which he believes the most likely scenario, Thai Rak Thai should not attempt to convene Parliament.

He said if the current political crisis was not resolved by then, Article 7 of the Constitution should be employed and a royallyappointed prime minister installed.

Otherwise, Suthep warned, there would be strong public resentment.

Thai Rak Thai Deputy Party Speaker Suthin Klangsaeng retaliated yesterday, launching a scathing attack on the Democrats and describing them as out of touch with reality and beyond recourse.

Suthin said the party's sole goal now was to dismantle the Thaksin regime at all cost.

And that, said the deputy TRT speaker, meant Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva provided nothing more than background music for a chorus from the People's Alliance for Democracy's leaders, such as Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang.

He said the Democrats were criminals in the eyes of democracy.

Suthin alleged there was a backroom revolt underway within the Democrats and party members were disgruntled by the party's decision to boycott the April 2 election because they now lacked legitimacy.

The Nation