Deposed leader Thaksin Shina-watra, who has made it known that he wishes to return to Thailand from virtual exile in London, has been asked by those who overthrew him to be patient and wait until the political climate becomes more stable.

Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtat said the best time for Thaksin to return is when martial law has been lifted, "which shouldn't be too long from now".

Suriyasai Katasila, a key member of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which held street protests against Thaksin, also warned that the national divide could be widened leading to a dangerous point if Thaksin returned today.

Prime Minister Surayud Chula-nont said on Saturday that Thaksin had made a telephone call to him asking about the possibility of returning home.

Surayud said that Thaksin was told that the new administrators needed to take many factors into consideration and discuss his request.

Surayud yesterday avoided giving a definite answer to Thaksin's request. He said people in charge would meet tomorrow to discuss the status of martial law. "Let me address international questions first and tackle local ones later," he said.

"My Cabinet will discuss the state of martial law on October 17. After that, we will inform local and foreign media about how we can accommodate their calls for public rights and liberty."

The coup leaders, who booted Thaksin out on September 19 when he was attending a UN assembly in New York, have ordered an investigation into alleged corruption within the Thaksin regime. But the former prime minister has not yet been formally charged.

Surayud said that as a Thai citizen, Thaksin could return, but he should do so at an "appropriate" time.

Thaksin's request coincided with his embattled Thai Rak Thai Party's attempt to stage a caucus to elect a new leader, despite the coup leaders ban on political gatherings.

The party, whose panic-stricken former MPs resigned en masse, is planning to petition the Election Commission for permission to hold a general assembly within 45 days.

While the coup leaders and the interim government have not directly turned down Thaksin's request, they seem to be giving a virtual "No", said some observers.

"It shouldn't be too long before martial law is lifted," said Boonrawd. "I guess he should wait until then if he wants to come home."

One of the darkest chapters in Thai history concerns another ousted prime minister whose return caused much strife, said political analysts.

The return of exiled leader Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn in 1976 triggered angry  protests among student activists who had staged the uprising that ousted him three years earlier.

The protests against Thanom became a catalyst for a brutal crackdown on the student movement by the ultra-right, culminating in the massacre of students at Thammasat University on October 6, 1976.

Some fear that Thaksin's strong grassroots support could destabilise the situation.

Boonrawd warned that a prompt return could trigger "undercurrents" that could again divide the country.

"In principle, it's the right of any Thai citizen to leave the country and return home any time they want. And the same goes for the former prime minister," said Boonrawd.

"But he should also consider whether his return now would do his country any good. We should consider whether his return now would trigger the undercurrents and raise tension."

He said the interim government and the Council for National Security (CNS), where the coup leaders now sit, would discuss and make a decision on the issue.

"When things become stable, the prime minister can come home. When martial law is lifted, we can consider things have returned to normal," said Boonrawd.

Air Force Commander-in-Chief Chalit Pukpasuk, the deputy leader of the CNS, said martial law could be lifted within two months.

"I don't know exactly when, but if all parties cooperate to get things back to normal martial law should be lifted within one or two months," he said.

"So far we haven't discussed the issue of when the former prime minister should return home. But now that he has made inquiries, it's our duty to provide him with information."

Suriyasai asked Thaksin to declare his real motives for the request, and suggested Thaksin should wait until the probe into alleged corruption was completed.

"He needs to clarify on what status does he intend to return. He's a virtual political defendant… the main cause of the September 19 power seizure. Yes, he's a Thai citizen, but the situation in our country today is far from normal," said Suriyasai.

"We need to be very careful. Many of his supporters think he's been persecuted. His return could spark rallies. Thaksin can come back, but he should wait for the justice process to work first.

There are many rumours and allegations about evidence of corruption being destroyed, His return could fuel more doubts and serves no good."