The politicians, affiliated to an unnamed large party, were telling people in the Northeast that Prem and Chavalit were involved in an attempt by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to bring down the administration, said Thaikorn Polsuwan, co-ordinator of the Network of Northeast Liberation.

Thaikorn told a press conference he was concerned the campaign would result in a seriously divided country.

 "It's the work of political sadists. This is evil action," he said.

Thaikorn, who was once affiliated with the Democrat Party, said the campaign had been going on over the past two months in many provinces, including Roi Et, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin and Buri Ram.

He claimed the politicians accused Prem and Chavalit during recent gatherings of local community leaders and officials.

Recently, in the wake of an alleged bomb plot targeting caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a group of government supporters gathered outside of Prem's residence in Bangkok asking him to "help protect" the PM.

Pallop Pinmanee, who is close to Chavalit, was fired as deputy chief of the Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) shortly after an Isoc official was arrested in connection with the alleged assassination plot.