The political temperature is rising after pro-government groups threatened mass street protests if the courts move to dissolve political parties for alleged electoral fraud.

They vowed to hit the streets if the planned October 15 general election did not go ahead.

The move comes after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claim-ed a powerful figure was masterminding his overthrow by unconstitutional means. Thaksin's Friday bombshell caused political uproar and public concern his allegations will exacerbate the political conflict and plunge the country deeper into crisis.

Tension is rising as pro-government groups move to shore up support for the Thaksin government. More than 500 members of the Caravan of the Poor attended a seminar yesterday where they demanded the general election be held on October 15.

Caravan leader Khamta Kaenbunchan said his group would campaign for a snap election to return an elected prime minister. "More than 10 agencies will move to call for a general election on October 15,'' he said.

Constitution Defending Club chairman Chucheep Cheewasuk said "people power" had waned after the courts nullified the April 2 election.

He claimed the courts had been doing everything possible to prevent a general election, including calling election commissioners in for questioning.

"The judges claimed they complied with His Majesty the King's wishes. But, the court verdicts are undermining democracy, so we must reject those court verdicts. No court has the right to dissolve political parties because the sovereign power belongs to the people. If the Constitution Court resolves to dissolve political parties, we must call for the court's dissolution also,'' he said.

Signatures were also collected on a petition seeking impeachment proceedings against Constitution Court and Administrative Court judges.

The organisers distributed books and videos CDs critical of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy and Sondhi Limthongkul, one if its leaders.

Khamta declined to answer allegations that the Caravan planned to team up with Royal Forestry Department officials and forest defence volunteers, who previously mobilised to harass Sondhi's "Muang Thai Rai Sapda" show in Bangkok's Lumpini Park.

He said he had heard that the forestry groups planned to get together.

Thaksin yesterday declined to clarify his allegations that someone was trying to topple him.

He would not name the so-called "prestigious" figure he claimed wanted to overthrow him via "unconstitutional" means. He said it was time for reconciliation and it was therefore better if he remained silent.

He refused to reply when reporters insisted he explain his Friday statement and respond to criticism that it had widened political rifts.

He also refused to comment on suggestions his return to weekend radio broadcasts was inappropriate.

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said Thaksin had three objectives in making the overthrow allegations: to exercise power, to declare his power and to challenge for "all-out war".

"Such statements create rifts and confrontations between people and severely damage the country,'' Ong-art said.

The Democrats demanded Thaksin reveal the name of the person in his allegations and explain how that person was acting unconstitutionally. They also questioned why the premier did not take legal action against the person.

"As prime minister he has the absolute right to crack down against unconstitutional acts. But, we have not seen him do anything apart from speaking and challenging for all-out war,'' he said.