Some 500 institute staff and students of the National Institute of Development Administration yesterday called on bureaucrats across the country to oppose caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

They also demanded they refuse illegitimate political orders.

Thaweesak Sootakawathin led 500 institute staff and students in taking an oath before a portrait of His Majesty the King. The oath declared they would respond to His Majesty's support of people with integrity and reject "villains".

Thaweesak alleged the government under Thaksin committed grave mistakes and showed no responsibility. It was only determined to cling to power.

He claimed the ruling party had tried to influence and dominate bureaucrats and forced them to carry out tasks that were not their responsibility.

It issued circulars in February this year opposing anti-government groups and in June called a meeting of high-ranking officials across the country to stress it was still in power, he said.

Thaksin allegedly instructed officials to reject a "charis?matic person whose power is beyond the Constitution", Thaweesak claimed. The transfer of officials was illegal for a caretaker government, he asserted.

"We expect the transfer of high-ranking officials will result in an unfair election,'' the lecturer said.

The group wanted Thaksin to resign and claimed that appeared to be the collective national view.

"We used to follow the senior figures of this country but now their words are ignored,'' he said.