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Deputy leaders Somchai Wongsawat and Sompong Amornwiwat as well as secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee represented the ruling party at a meeting with Chart Thai deputy leader Somsak Prissanananthakul, Matchima Thipataya leader Anongwan Thepsuthin, Pracharaj deputy leader Uraiwan Thienthong, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Chetta Thanajaro and Puea Pandin deputy leader Ranongrak Suwanchawee at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.

After key PPP members propose a candidate for the premiership, Surapong would let the other parties know so they could decide their position on him.

Surapong said the coalition parties did not put any pressure on the PPP.

Reacting to criticism directed at ousted prime minister Samak Sundaravej, Somchai said the coalition had done well under Samak's stewardship.

Pracharaj leader Snoh Thienthong said Samak was not a suitable candidate and should take this opportunity to exclude himself.

Among Somchai, Surapong and Sompong, Somchai was the most qualified, Snoh said. But it was not a good time for Somchai to step forward, as he still suffered the image of acting as a nominee for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

A source from a coalition party said the coalition members had agreed to continue supporting the PPP, as the budget bill has already been approved without cuts. The PPP also won support by promising not to dissolve the House anytime soon.

Huge sums running into hundreds of thousands of baht await each MP voting for Samak as prime minister, the source said. Even more - tens of millions of baht - are being offered as an incentive after Samak takes the prime minister's post for each MP to develop his constituency, the source said.

Another source, a close aide to a former minister in the Samak government, said Thaksin had insisted that only Samak could be considered for prime minister.

Thaksin wants Samak to complete amending the charter to let the 111 banned former executives of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party return to politics. He also wants legal cases against his family members cleared and their frozen assets released.

Chetta and Somsak said the new prime minister should be someone who can resolve the political crisis. Anongwan and Ranongrak said they believe the PPP would nominate a capable person.

Earlier, Somsak and Chart Thai chief adviser Sanan Kachornprasart met Pracharaj leader Snoh, Puea Pandin leader Suwit Khunkitti and his deputy Mun Patanotai as well as Somsak Thepsuthin from Matchima Thipataya to discuss whether they would back the PPP in forming a government.

Banharn said Chart Thai would meet again this morning before voting for a prime minister.

Banharn said he did not oppose the concept of a national government but thought it would be impractical.

He said the prime minister must be tolerant of pressure.

"They won't let me take the post, believe me, and I won't take the post. Even though I wasn't the prime minister, I was attacked on the stage [of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy]," he said.

"Now it's come to a political dead-end. The final solution exists but I can't say [it]. I can say only that it's 'doom doom'," he said.

A PPP Bangkok MP, who asked not to be named, said his group was worried about the push for Samak's comeback.

Although legal legitimacy would be claimed, clashes could arise as the PAD would step up its campaign against him and Samak would counter-react.

The military could intervene, which would worsen the party's image in the public's eye, the MP added.