Army chief rules out any question of coup

"Any Thai person who reveres the monarch should not criticise the privy councillors," he reiterated.

His comments came after former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and his loyal politicians started making increasingly heavy assaults on Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda.

The Army chief insisted that the military was loyal to the monarchy and that soldiers would sacrifice their lives to protect the revered institution. Besides, he said, Thais should not be at loggerheads during an economic crisis as severe as this.

The commander-in-chief also rejected claims by retired General Saiyud Kerdphol, chairman of Poll Watch, that a group of military officers had received funding from Thaksin to stage a coup. Anupong said that while the Army was under his leadership it would not stage any coups.

In a move to dismiss Thaksin's allegation, Anupong said the military would not take any sides and not get involved in politics.

Asked if the current political confrontation would lead to violence, he said, Thais should learn to accept different viewpoints and coexist peacefully.

"We don't need to totally defeat the other side," he added.