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Almost half of the respondents did not believe that if Thaksin returned to power as prime minister, the country's economy would improve, while 40 per cent still believed in him.

The survey drew 2,128 responses from 18 provinces across the country on Friday and Saturday after Thaksin started his phone-in to the "Truth Today" show and gave an interview to foreign media.

Slightly more than half did not believe Thaksin's statement that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had political motives for wanting him extradited just to embarrass him and almost half did not believe that Abhisit lacked the vision to save the country's economy.

Slightly more than half did not believe Thaksin that if he were PM, he would not seek a loan to solve the economic crisis like Abhisit did, while 33 per cent accepted Thaksin's statement.

Half thought that if Thaksin stopped his political campaign, the political situation facing the country would return to normal.

Half did not agree with passing any amnesty law to let both sides reconcile with each other, while 36 per cent approved of the notion.

Almost half felt the Abhisit administration would survive no longer than one year, while 39 per cent gave it longer than that.

Noppadon Kanikar, director of Abac Poll, said that it would be hard for the country to avoid political confrontation and violence because Thaksin still had many supporters and opponents. Both camps are trying to swing the silent majority to their side with a war of words and political campaigns.

Every segment of society must come up with measures to curb conflicts and violence and find solutions through talks, he added.