Campaign for Popular Democracy secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila called on the government to reveal the financial routes that linked the old power groups behind the move to bring down the government. "If the government does not reveal the evidence, the old power groups can claim that that they are the victim of political harassment. The government will lose the public support as a result,'' he said.

Thai Rak Thai Party caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang accused Anti-Money Laundering Commission for being a political tool for the government by releasing news that former Thai Rak Thai Party mps in northern and northeastern provinces received Bt3 million each to carry out political activities to bring down the government.

"We have never had policies to topple the Council for National Security through such method. We want to be in power through election only. We also will not join with any one who seized power through staging a coup,'' he said.

Chaturon said that the party will not stage any political move to pressure against the court ruling on the party dissolution at the end of next month.

Thai Rak Thai Party spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang said the allegation about financial support to the party is groundless. "It is a political discredit that was made without moral integrity,'' he said.

Justice Minister Chanchai Likitjitta denied that AMLO checked the financial transactions of politicians and leaked the reports. He said he checked with AMLO secretary-general Pol Col Yuthabul Dissaman and he denied the allegation. Charnchai said that AMLO did not have the right to secretly conduct examination on financial transactions of anyone. He said the agency can conduct the investigation only if any one committed offences in accordance to money laundering.

Paichit Sriworakan, former Thai Rak Thai Party mp of Nakhon Panom said he and other former mps from the same province filed complaints with police against AMLO for defamation. "It is not true so we have to protect our name because we have to be in this political road over the long term," he said.

Paichit did not rule out the possibility that former prime minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will return to politics following reports that Chalerm Yoobamrung, leader of New Alternative Party invited him to join his party.

The Nation