Gen Chavalit quits as deputy PM

"Due to my failure to achieve the original mission, I would like to take responsibility for the operation. I, therefore, would like to resign as deputy prime minister from this moment," Chavalit said in his letter addressed to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

Chavalit said the decision was to show answerability for the loss and damage caused by the police action.

He said he fell short of his mission to address the country's urgent problems in a limited period of time.

Chavalit's aide, Lt-General Pirat Sawamiphak, paid a visit to arrested PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang.

Pirat said he was instructed to post Chavalit's bank passbook with Bt1.1 million as bond for Chamlong's temporary release.

He quoted Chavalit as saying that he wanted Chamlong to be freed as he believed that with his non-violent approach, Chamlong could help curb violence from the PAD side.

Chamlong decided not to seek bail.

The early morning crackdown saw police trying to prevent the protesters from getting closer to Parliament building.

Pirat, who acted as a mediator in government negotiations with the PAD, said Chavalit did not order police to move against the protesters. In fact, Chavalit disagreed with the idea when Cabinet members and senior police officers discussed possible measures in response to the PAD's siege of Parliament, Pirat said.

Chavalit suggested changing yesterday's parliamentary session for the government's policy statement to another location but his proposal was outvoted and rejected, Pirat said.

At its urgent meeting on Monday night, the Cabinet assigned Chavalit to deal with the protesters.