Abac Poll Research Centre director Dr Noppadon Kannika said support for caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had declined slightly.

The survey was conducted between August 25 and September 16 and quizzed 15,538 people living in 24 provinces. The survey results were revealed yesterday.

Respondents were asked which side they supported in the current political conflict. Almost half - or 49.1 per cent - said they favoured neither side, while 29.4 per cent supported the government and 21.5 per cent chose the anti-government faction.

The most fervent hope was an end to political hostilities with 66.2 per cent wanting a speedy resolution. And 64.8 per cent wanted Thai people to be united.

Sixty-two per cent of those in the South of the country chose not to take a side in the discord while 3.6 per cent said they supported the government. The other 34.4 per cent were in the anti-government camp.

But 43.4 per cent of north-eastern respondents were behind the Thaksin administration, Noppadon said.

He noted support for Thaksin had fallen from a similar survey taken in February. As a result, he suggested Thaksin make a decision soon about his political future. This would reduce public tension.

Noppadon said a delayed decision could see his support further eroded.

Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva said yesterday Thaksin had written a second open letter to the Thai people.

Suranand said Thaksin's correspondence came from Cuba on Friday and said the leaders of several countries had expressed interest in visiting Thailand to observe government policies and projects.

He claimed some were already adopting and implementing his government's initiatives.

Suranand expected a third message from Thaksin as he attended the United Nations' General Assembly in New York starting today.