PM rallies his forces after nomination setback

Abhisit also dismissed speculation he might dissolve the House after his failure to push through the nomination of General Patheep Tanprasert to succeed outgoing national police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan.

"Don't let your imagination run wild," he said in reference to conjectures of a House dissolution. There was no conflict with the legislative branch nor a policy clash to warrant a snap election, he added.

He appeared tense, however, in trying to resolve the impasse over the picking of Patcharawat's successor. He sidestepped a direct question about Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul's opposition to his nomination of Patheep. He said he had not had a chance to talk to the minister who is a member from coalition partner Bhum Jai Thai Party.

Regardless of the stumbling block to the nomination process, he said he expected to have the name of the new police chief before October. Patcharawat is scheduled for mandatory retirement in September.

Among top advisers and ranking Democrats meeting the prime minister were Chuan Leekpai and Banyat Bantadtan.

Before arriving at Government House, the prime minister went to the residence of his secretary general Niphon Promphan and the two had a closed-door meeting at 6am.

He then proceeded to attend two scheduled functions in the early morning. He told reporters that he was weighing a few options on how to proceed with the nomination process. He refused to give a specific date on when he would call a next meeting to vote on the nomination.

Before noon he dropped by his Democrat Party building where about 20 government MPs greeted him to lend moral support. He cancelled his appointments for the early afternoon but went ahead with his engagements in the evening.

After meeting the prime minister, Chuan said Abhisit's situation was unexpected but the problem should blow over soon.

He ruled out any negative consequences on the coalition alliance.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the problem would not spiral out of control.

It is normal to have differing opinions regarding candidates for a job and the meeting can resume for a revote on the nomination after resolving the differences, he said.

He said the differences were reconcilable and should not be blown out of proportion.

Suthep insisted he had no idea that Chaovarat would oppose the nomination of Patheep, opting instead to support General Jumpol Manmai for the position.

He said he did not see Chaovarat as trying to challenge the prime minister but as simply airing his views.

He said he met Abhisit a few hours before the commencing of the Thursday's nomination and had not had a chance to talk to him after the botched meeting.

Suthep flew to Phuket yesterday morning on an inspection trip.

Democrat MP Pramuan Aimpia said Chaovarat had shown gross impropriety by voting against the prime minister's chosen candidate for the job.

Abhisit had honoured Chaovarat's decision to pick the permanent secretary for Interior but

the favour was not returned in the case of the nomination for police chief, Pramuan said.

He called for a review of the coalition alliance, arguing if one of the coalition partners failed to accord due honour and respect, then that partner does not deserve to stay on the bandwagon.

Faction leader Newin Chidchob said neither Chaovarat nor his Bhum Jai Thai Party was the "cause" for the botched nomination.

"I think Suthep and Niphon are in the best position to clarify what exactly happened," Newin said.

He said he was not involved with the issue and therefore could not shed light on the problem.

Asked whether he anticipated a House dissolution, he said only the prime minister could answer this question.