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BANGKOK: Thailand's former deputy premier and chief negotiator with anti-government protesters said a coup is the only way to resolve political turmoil, local media reported Friday.
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh resigned from his government roles on Tuesday after police and protesters clashed in front of parliament in Bangkok, leaving two dead and 478 injured.
The clashes were the most violent confrontations since demonstrators launched a campaign in May to topple the ruling party.
Chavalit, who was also prime minister from 1996 to 1997, told the Bangkok Post newspaper that the Thai military needed to launch a putsch because "there is no other way out" of the strife.
"After the military steps in, power should be immediately returned to the people and an interim government can be formed in which every party takes part," Chavalit said.
Thailand's powerful army chief General Anupong Paojinda has repeatedly promised that the military would not launch a coup and would stay neutral as the crisis unfolds.
"The situation does not warrant staging a coup," he told Thai television Thursday, adding: "It's up to the government to decide what to do if it cannot contain the situation."
However Chavalit said the military could quickly step aside after a coup with the appointment of a new premier and cabinet "who represent all sectors of society."
"Tell him (General Anupong) not to be afraid. After he does it (stage a coup), he should pull out and let the people take it from there," Chavalit said.
Thousands of protesters from an anti-government coalition have been barricaded in at Bangkok's main government compound since late August and on Tuesday the group brought thousands more to parliament.
They are demanding that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resign, accusing his government of being a puppet of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Protests by the same anti-government coalition helped lead to the 2006 military-backed coup that unseated Thaksin - the 18th putsch in the kingdom.
- AFP/yb
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