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Pongthep said Suthep was probably trying to score a political point. He clarified that the claim someone close to Thaksin had been contacted for possible negotiations with the former premier was false.

Last week, Suthep told local media that he is in the process of arranging talks with Thaksin to urge him to cease creating political instability. Ponthep said he had talked with Thaksin on the phone on Saturday and was told that Suthep's claim was groundless.

Pongthep said the current political problem is not between Thaksin and the Democrat Party-led government but between pro and anti-democratic forces.

He said the pro-Thaksin red-shirt protesters wanted equality and democracy for all. Thaksin, he said, was merely a symbol of democracy since he came to power by an overwhelming majority support but was later ousted in a coup d'etat.

Pongthep said the former premier had no power to direct the red-shirt group as they have their own ideology and are now facing undemocratic forces of which the Democrat Party was also a part. Any negotiation or talks would thus be futile, he said.

 Fostering democracy does not require talks with Thaksin but the establishment of a truly independent judiciary free from external influence, making democracy for all and not a privileged few, and ensure fair allocation of resources.

Thaksin needed justice like any other of the 63 million Thais, said Pongthep. The former premier was convicted last year for corruption and is now on the run.

Coordinator of the People's Alliance for Democracy Suriyasai Katasila said the government's logic to negotiate with Thaksin for reconciliation and the sake of the country does not make sense. Although it was the government's good intention, it would be useless. Thaksin would not agree to talk unles his supporters and the Pheu Thai Party are in a hot seat. Thaksin currently holds negotiation power of an order to cause the government trouble both in and outside Parliament.

The negotiation between the government and Thaksin would raise suspicions in society as to whether the two sides were striking a political deal, Suriyasai said. Otherwise, it could be a challenge to the court's order when Thaksin is a fugitive with many legal cases unfinished, he said.

The only key for national unity is a strong justice system, Suriyasai said. The government must dare to reform the system, starting with the police and attorney officials, who are part of the problem.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the talks would only be for creating understanding and justice. There would be no persecution, negotiated deals or breaking of the law.

However, he said he had not heard from Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban about the progress of the talks.