Deputy Army Chief Emphasises 'No Coup'

Commenting on rumours that there will be a coup during Army Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda's overseas trip early next month, Gen Prayuth said there is no possibility of a military coup. He said he could guarantee there will be no such move.

Gen Prayuth added that he wanted to see the country run smoothly.

He also denies his involvement in plotting a coup at Air Force Headquarters as alleged by opposition Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan.

Gen Prayuth said he did not know whether there was a secret meeting to plot a coup on Saturday as he stayed home all day.

Meanwhile, Air Force spokesman Group Captain Monthon Satchukorn said there were no military chiefs using Air Force Headquarters to plot a coup.

The report was untrue, he said, adding that Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshall Ittiporn Suppa-wong is on duty abroad.

In related development, the redclad anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) core leaders affrmed that there were signifcant signs indicating there would be a coup to get rid off the Red Shirt group.

UDD leader Veera Musikapong said rumours of a coup were not nonsense because some people had plotted but could not carry it out because they were unready. He said the UDD must uncover the issue because it was true and to prepare the Red Shirt group who opposed a coup.

UDD leader Veera Musikapong has said that the rumours of a coup are just rumours and have no basis.

UDD leader, Nattawut Saikua said on Friday from Noon to 5pm, Red Shirt protesters would erect a small stage at Thai army headquarters in Bangkok to ask Gen Prayuth whether he planned a coup.

Mr. Jatuporn said normally the coup was committed to topple the government but this time it was planned against the Red Shirt group and ousted convicted premier Thaksin Shinawatra as the government expressed no concern about the rumours.

He said that some government men joined the alleged secret meeting at Air Force Headquarters.

He added that the Navy and Police chiefs did not agree with the move.

This would be the frst time that the coup targeted a civil society group, he said.