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BANGKOK - The Thai general who led a 2006 coup against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Friday he expected anti-government protests planned for the weekend to pass off without violence.
Sonthi Boonyaratglin warned however that in future there would probably be more attacks like the grenade blast in Bangkok on Thursday that killed one anti-government demonstrator and wounded 29.
A group called the People's Alliance for Democracy, which has occupied government offices in the capital since August, has called for a blockade of parliament on Sunday following the attack.
"It's unlikely that Sunday's mass protest will turn into violence because that's negative to the government and violence could open other options," he told AFP in an interview.
With speculation about a possible coup still swirling after months of political turmoil, Sonthi said military intervention was unlikely at this stage but he could not rule it out.
"A coup is not the means and it's not possible now," Sonthi told AFP in an interview.
"As matter of fact, there are chances to mount a successful coup and at this time some factors are already there. But many factors are still not yet there, therefore to stage a coup is not easy," he said.
The PAD accuses the government of being a corrupt front for billionaire Thaksin and says it will not end its occupation of Government House until the administration steps down.
Its campaign exploded into violence on October 7 when clashes between police and protesters left two people dead and more than 500 injured.
Sonthi toppled Thaksin's government in September 2006, accusing the billionaire of widespread corruption and of disloyalty to the king, which is a serious offence in Thailand.
Thaksin's allies returned to power after elections last year.
Sonthi however criticised PAD leaders for a lack of strategy, and predicted more attacks against protesters in future.
"Bomb attacks against PAD will happen again and will continue," he said.
"If PAD core leaders are not strong enough it will be difficult to fight. They must know their enemy as well as know themselves -- they must assess themselves whether are ready to fight with Thaksin," he said.
- AFP/ir
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