Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday he was confident the government and the Council for National Security would cooperate up until the election.

"I cannot assure you beyond what you can see. The CNS chairman sees me and the Cabinet every week. We talk about many things. When I need some help from the CNS chairman, I call him. And I explain my administration when necessary," Surayud said when asked about the relationship between the government and the junta.

He said neither party could be separated as the power of the administration was dependent upon the authority of the CNS.

However, when asked whether both would be able to lead the country smoothly until the election, he said he would try his best to ensure that would happen.

He said he was willing to listen to people's opinions, but he would make decisions on his own after carefully considering all factors.

Meanwhile, a group of about 30 people led by health activist Tul Sittisomwong yesterday filed a demand at Government House that Prime Minister Surayud step down.

Tul said he would prostrate himself before Surayud if the prime minister agreed to quit his post.

Tul's remark appeared to be a quip on Surayud's comment last year that he (Surayud) would prostrate himself before anyone if it would end the violence in the South.

"This government falsely announced reconciliation policies, and this makes it appear that former prime minister Thaksin didn't do anything so bad. So, many groups have protested about the government and the Council for National Security," Tul said.

The government had made people feel discouraged, he added.

He said his group had no hidden agenda. It did not want to oust Surayud, only to ask him to step down. The word "oust" should be applied only to the former Thaksin government, he said.

After leaving Government House, the group headed to Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda's residence to ask Prem to convince Surayud to quit.

On Monday, Tul and 20 academics and businessmen asked Surayud to step down because, they claim, he has failed to address the urgent problems facing the country in his seven months in office.

Meanwhile, Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa said nobody could do any better than Surayud at the moment. However, the prime minister should work at a faster pace to resolve the country's many problematic issues.

Woranaree Kosajan,

Samatcha Hoonsara,

Nerisa Nerykhiew

The Nation