I can get Thaksin to cancel phone-in : Snoh

"I think I can ask Thaksin not to phone in," he said, conceding that the event, if it takes place, might inflame domestic divisions and jeopardise Snoh's efforts to launch a unity regime.

Snoh said if the Pheu Thai Party continued to have confidence in him to carry on forming the alliance in its favour, then he should be allowed to control the setting up of the next government.

He insisted Thaksin would heed his advice to cancel his phone-in.

Snoh said he would personally nominate Puea Pandin leader Pracha Promnok as prime minister of a national unity government. Although Pracha earlier refused to be a contender for the premiership, Snoh was confident Pracha would change his mind.

He said he would succeed in swaying a House majority to vote for Pracha to be PM in such an administration. The only hurdle was Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

He urged Abhisit to suspend his plan and get behind Pracha.

"Abhisit is still very young and he will have his turn one day but not now," he said.

Snoh said he was open to talks with Abhisit about the allocation of Cabinet seats in a national unity government.

While voicing optimism about the idea, he has had no firm support from key parties except Pheu Thai.

Holed up at his home all yesterday, he saw only two visitors, Chart Thai MP Kamol Jiraphanwanit and ex-Thai Rak Thai executive Pongsak Ruktapongpaisal.

Kamol said he made a personal visit to Snoh, while Pongsak, seen as a staunch ally of Thaksin, showed up in a bid to salvage the idea of a unity government.