Samak may not be 'suitable as PM' : Yongyuth

The meeting, chaired by former PPP deputy leader and ex-House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, was attended by about half of the party, which has 223 MPs.

Yongyuth told reporters that they had discussed the country's situation, particularly the question of who would be best as prime minister after the Constitution Court disqualified Samak on Tuesday.

"We, as members of the party, think that if we get caught in power traps, we will not be able to see the real problems. The country will plunge deeper if we continue to be rivals," Yongyuth explained.

Yongyuth was appointed to convey this message to Samak.

"We believe that Khun Samak is good and straightforward. However, we should not make it a personal matter as the country's problems have to be settled urgently," Yongyuth said, insisting that the next prime minister would definitely be from PPP.

He added that Friday was too early to nominate a new premier, and that the parliament session to discuss the matter should be postponed until next month.

He said the PPP would meet again today to discuss the best candidates for the PM's job.