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Samak told his colleagues he had always protected Thaksin and would never stab him in the back or try to damage his reputation, a party source revealed.

"I will speak here [about the matter] for the last time. I want to ask for your understanding that I am working for the benefit of the country and for our former prime minister," he was quoted saying.

"My party colleagues want me to explain to the party and I'm ready to talk to everyone. If you see that I can no longer do anything to help the former prime minister, I will do whatever you like. And I will consider my political future," Samak reportedly said.

Samak spent about 20 minutes addressing the meeting. After, some MPs including Wasit Payakabutr raised their hands to ask questions. However, Samak excused himself and left the meeting room immediately.

Samak's remarks came in response to a written request by some 200 party MPs and candidates upset by police issuing wanted notices for Thaksin and Pojaman and distributing them to stations throughout the country, according to PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders earlier issued arrest warrants for the couple after they failed to show up in court last week for a hearing in a corruption case involving the Ratchadaphisek land deal.

PPP deputy leader Somchai Wongsawat, who is Thaksin's brother-in-law, mediated at yesterday's meeting between Samak and party members. Copies of the letter sent to Samak were distributed to participants yesterday.

When Samak arrived, he complained about the heavy presence of reporters and cameramen. MP Wasit, who is close to Thaksin's politician sister Yaowapa Wongsawat, was heard saying: "They just want to photograph someone who rarely attends party meetings."

Most of the participants looked stunned at Wasit's comment, the source said.

Before the meeting, Yaowapa yesterday called on Samak to protect Thaksin's dignity and honour, as a former national leader.

Yaowapa, who holds no official executive post in the ruling People Power Party, still has good connections with many of its MPs, who come from the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, in which Yaowapa served as an executive.

Before the meeting, she met with many People Power MPs who are still loyal to Thaksin, PPP's Suthin said.

Yaowapa said the politicians were not pressuring the PM but simply acted on concerns by people in their electorates.

"People were really upset when an arrest warrant was issued for Thaksin. They asked the MPs, who simply relayed this concern to the party leader," Suthin quoted Yaowapa.

"The MPs just want to ask the party leader to protect Thaksin's human dignity and his status as a former prime minister - it is not for Thaksin himself," she was quoted saying.

Thaksin's sister said he did not deserve such "humiliating" treatment from the police, as there had been no court ruling condemning him.