Sonthi denies plot against PPP

"I don't know where such speculation came from, as I have never interfered with the electoral process," he said.

The rumour spread after Sonthi held a highlevel meeting with military leaders in the morning. He was later seen having a discussion with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. After, he left his office for an undisclosed location and was back in the afternoon. He did not attend the Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan justified the decision to declare December 24 an extra public holiday on grounds of helping voters to return to their hometown to cast ballots.

The government approved the long weekend with the hope of achieving a turnout of more than 70 per cent, he said.

"Although I am concerned that the holiday might encourage vote buying, the government expects the awareness campaign against money politics will prevent that problem."

He said electioneers might try to buy votes wholesale from rural families as the holiday would make it possible for family members to return home and vote.

He voiced optimism, however, the Election Commission could preempt vote buying by encouraging rural voters to cast absentee ballots instead of going back to their constituencies.

Thirapat said the government would intensify its campaign to explain voting rules to help voters become familiar with two the types of ballot numbers - one for the partylist candidates and the other for constituency candidates.

If voters were confused about ballot numbers, it might lead to an increase in the number of invalid votes, he said.

The Cabinet approved the extra holiday by a majority vote as it did not have a consensus on the issue, Deputy Social Development and Human Security Minister Poladej Pinpratheep said.

Poladej said he and Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn were in the minority in opposing the holiday. He doubted the holiday would really boost voter turnout.

The Nation