Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday lashed out at the government for "ordering killings" and for framing him as the mastermind behind "terrorism" during the protests.
In a related development, red-shirt leaders rigorously denied their involvement in a campaign designed to overthrow the monarchy and threatened to sue the government for defamation.
"I condemn both of you - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban - as murderers," Chavalist said in a bid to deflect the charges.
The main opposition party also called a press conference to rebut allegations that Chavalit and the red shirts were linked to acts of terrorism designed to grab power and that the red-shirt protests were just a pretext for establishing a "New Thai State" and abolishing the monarchy.
Chavalit said he was not responsible for instigating violence, arguing the real culprits were Abhisit and Suthep who ordered a crackdown on the red shirts in cold blood.
"You will be haunted by your murderous acts and I am certain you will get your deserved punishment," he warned.
Chavalit also denied he was in any way involved with armed groups, saying he had always been an advocate for change via peaceful means. However, he added he would not file a counter lawsuit on grounds that he deemed it futile to litigate about his reputation.
He also insisted he was justified in seeking an audience with His Majesty the King and soliciting royal intervention to end the turmoil.
"If all sides think my move is inappropriate, then I will have to suspend my request for a royal audience," he said.
Meanwhile, red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua said none of the reds were linked in any attempts to harm the monarchy.
He said portraying the reds as disloyal to the monarchy was just a figment of the government's and the military's imagination, adding that the reds had instructed their lawyers to initiate a defamation lawsuit.
He went on to question why the authorities were labelling the reds as terrorists when those involved in violence in the three southernmost provinces were classified as insurgents.
Red-shirt leader weng Tojirakarn said the reds were struggling to achieve six goals, none of which was about overthrowing the monarchy as alleged.
The six goals are to advance democracy with the King as head of state, to overthrow the ammart or the elite, to uphold peaceful means, to combine political and economic struggles, to get rid of double standards and restore the suspended 1997 charter.