Somkid Jatusripitak, former deputy prime minister in the overthrown Thaksin Shinawatra government, is being lobbied to lead a new political party to be formed by former key figures from the Thai Rak Thai Party, a source said yesterday.

Wang Nam Yom faction leader Somsak Thepsuthin is leading the appeal to Somkid, according to the source.

The decimated Thai Rak Thai Party remains leaderless and more members are expected to quit as a group to join a new party if Somkid decides to take up its leadership.

Somsak lunched yesterday with Somkid and other faction members, including Varathep Ratanakorn and Sora-at Klinpra-toom.

However, Somkid has not agreed to the proposal and wants to wait until a clearer political direction emerges, the source said.

If Somkid accepted leadership of a new party, other Thai Rak Thai factions that have already defected - or planning to defect - would follow him.

These included the Chon Buri bloc led by Sontaya Kunplome and the Pinij Charusombat alliance.

The group also approached former Thai Rak Thai deputy secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai to join the party.

Deputy Thai Rak Thai leader Sudarat Keyuraphan refused to helm the party, saying she could become the subject of a corrup-tion investigation. She said a

leader with a "better image" would be preferable and suggested Chaturon Chaisang or Pongthep Thepkanchana.

Chaturon has already refused and Pongthep declined to confirm if he had been approached. He claimed reports suggesting he was a candidate were the "opinions" of others.

Pongthep said he expected the new party leader to be temporary, handling administrative affairs that had lapsed. The Thai Rak Thai executive had not met since the coup led to a ban on political gatherings.

He believed the leader of a new party would need the "respect" of other party members.

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said non-career politicians had expressed interest in joining a new party once the political landscape cleared.