Thaksin threatens to lead protests himself if coup happens

"Do not worry about me. I can manage to survive. But I am worried about your safety. Whenever the shooting breaks out, soldiers shoot at people, or coup takes place, I will return and lead protesters to Bangkok,'' Thaksin said.

He was speaking through video link to his supporters who camped outside Government House on their fifth night on Monday.

Thaksin repeatedly attacked Privy Council chief General Prem Tinsulanonda, saying after Prem was no longer PM, he continued his influence over governments especially on appointments of military officials.

"He (Prem) always contacted us over the issue till I had to tell him let Thailand has just one PM,'' Thaksin said.

Thaksin also accused Prem, the military and the Constitution Court of staging silence coups against governments, citing the removal of Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat as PM.

Thaksin called on his supporters to rise against bureaucratic polity in the country. "We will get our democracy back from the Privy Council, from the military and from the bureaucrats. We want the democracy that brings us our well-being,'' he said.

The former PM then attacked Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya saying when he was PM, Kasit asked him to be his secretary and that Kasit always accepted money from him. Thaksin said Kasit also criticised Democrat Party chief advisor Chuan Leekpai to him as being incompetent.

Thaksin attacked Kasit as being international terrorist for involving in the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport. "I heard that he wants to revoke my passports. It is just over a thousand baht. Take it from me but you cannot take my heart of being Thai,'' he said.