The committee was about to debate the article when CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri ordered it to postpone any decision. "We will wait and hear the rulings and decide later," he said.

CDC member Wicha Mahakhun said CDC deputy chairman Charan Pakdithanakul had proposed the article but agreed a decision be postponed to reduce pressure on the committee from allegations that it was seeking to apply the ban to executives of the country's two major parties.

"We do not want politicians to link us to the incident because finally the court may not dissolve either party," he said.

CDC member Sodsri Satayathum, who two weeks ago requested a quorum check for a vote on whether to remove article 68 of the charter draft, which relates to the setting up of a national panel to tackle crises, asked the committee to note her intention to include the article for further debate.

Prasong, who moved to stop Sodsri's quorum check saying he wanted the CDC to remove the article to prevent conflict among its members, said he agreed the committee secretary note Sodsri's intention to initiate further debate on setting up the panel.

"I asked to remove the article because I believe the National Legislative Assembly members can bring the article back into the draft during the next debate," he said.