Samak says Abhisit can't wait

"They can't tolerate to see this government remain in office. They are waiting then this government will go," Samak said.

"They wonder why this stupid government has the chance to deal with projects worth hundreds of billions of baht," he said.

Samak also accused Abhisit Vejjajiva, the opposition leader and Democrat Party chief, of craving for the prime minister's seat.

"Great desire to become prime minister was evident" after the election results were announced, Samak said, without naming anyone but leaving no doubt to whom he referred. He pointed out that the Democrats were trying to form a government even though their coalition would have only a few MPs more than the majority.

"Just four months and they can't wait. I wonder if they can tolerate for four years," Samak concluded his speech in response to the opposition's attack on him.

Abhisit earlier said that Samak's government had caused much damage to the country over its four months in office and that the damage size would be far greater if allowed to complete its four-year term.

Samak began his one-hour speech by countering the opposition leader's allegation that he was ungrateful to MR Seni Pramoj, the late ex-premier and former Democrat leader who persuaded Samak into politics by joining the party. Abhisit, whose speech lasted about two and a half hours, had said that he hoped Samak would have been grateful to Seni as half as he was grateful to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I have never been ungrateful to MR Seni Pramoj," Samak said.

He also said that he had no obligations to return Thaksin's favour. "It's Thaksin who has to return my favour," Samak said, without elaborating.

The PM insisted that he had not returned anyone's favour over the past four months in office.

He said that the opposition's nine points of accusation outlined in its censure motion against him were "far more serious than facts".

"I am confident that I have done no damage to the country over the past four months. I will continue my duties as the government head," Samak said.

He said that he would meet leaders of foreign countries and continue with his schedules of overseas visits to China, Russia, European countries and the United Nations headquarters.

The prime minister said that the opposition leader's "disdainful" speech against him would damage his image in the eyes of foreign leaders "if they don't know the facts".

Samak also countered Abhisit's allegation that the government would cause Thailand to lose more territory to Cambodia for supporting that country's effort to register the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site.

The premier said that the government had been careful about the boundaries between the two countries and had consulted with experts at the Foreign Affairs Ministry about the matter.

He also rejected the allegation that his government's action over the Preah Vihear issue was linked to Thaksin's business opportunities in Cambodia. "We have done the right things. And there are no trade-offs," he said.

He treated Thaksin's business projects in Cambodia as an unrelated happening.

The prime minister also pointed to the importance of keeping good relationships with neighbouring countries, which he said would bring about benefits to Thailand. For example, he said, Thailand entered an agreement with Cambodia to grow energy plants in that country to supply for Thailand's production of ethanol.

"We can't move our country elsewhere. We have to keep good ties with neighbours so that we can have the peace of mind," Samak said.

For him, the Preah Vihear agreement with Cambodia was also a way to keep a good relationship with the neighbour. He said the ongoing nationalistic fervour was souring ties between the two countries.

Samak also defended himself against other allegations by the opposition leader.

He said the constitutional amendment plan was not aimed at helping Thaksin over his corruption cases. He pointed out that many cases had been filed with courts. "He will not be spared if he is found to be guilty."

The prime minister appeared to have repeated what he said during his weekly "Talking Samak Style" programme in countering the opposition's allegations.

His speech , which was broadcast live on the state-run NBT, was interrupted by the station's brief hourly news programme.