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He said he had talked to the military and it had assured there would not be any use of force to crack down on the protesters and also it would not create any conflict that could lead to a coup to overthrow the government.

Asked how the tripartite meeting could work as the People's Alliance for Democracy had set a condition that it would sit at the negotiation table only after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej resigned, Prasopsuk said he believed all three parties wanted to solve the problem.

Maj General Chamlong Srimuang, one of the PAD leaders, insisted the PAD would not negotiate with anybody until Samak resigns.

Somsak Kosaisuka, a PAD leader, said the antigovernment group was willing to provide support to students who have been pressuring Samak to resign by boycotting their classes and refusing to sit for exams.

He said the PAD had told its supporters in Udon Thani that they should organise a protest there during the roving Cabinet meeting only if police ensured their safety as government supporters have threatened to assault them.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said had Samak dissolved the House, the political situation would have eased. He said Army chief General Anupong Paochinda should be confident that he could control the situation if the government revokes the state of emergency.

Bangkok Senator Rosana Tositrakul voiced concern that Samak would repeat history in instigating violence as happened in October 6, 1976 when he used the Army radio station to provoke village scouts against students, leading to the gruesome killing of students in Thammasat University. She said the crack down by the government against pro-democracy students on October 14, 1973, and against the middleclass in May 1992 had led to the defeat of the government. However, Samak believed his campaign in 1976 led to a government victory as the students were brutally suppressed. "This time Samak is mobilising the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship to fight against the government's opponents, hoping there would be a crack down against them,'' she said.

She called on the government to lift the state of emergency. She believed the government planned to crack down against the protesters without having to shoulder any responsibility.