Bangkok Post

Speaking at a rally in Minburi on Friday night, Mr Suthep, a former secretary-general of the Democrat Party, claimed that exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had sent a Pheu Thai member to contact him about joining the coalition government.

But the invitation came with strings attached, according to Mr Suthep. He said he was told that the Democrats must refrain from opposing Pheu Thai's plans to amend the constitution and pass reconciliation bills.

Mr Suthep said he declined the invistaion because he would never allow the charter amendment and reconciliation billls, which he believes would destroy the country, to obtain approval from parliament.

Mr Prompong claimed the veteran Democrat power-broker from Surat Thani was making up the whole story.

"Mr Suthep’s claim is not true and it is just a political game to slander the government," said the Pheu Thai spokesman.

"It is not possible for Pheu Thai to work together with the Democrats because the two parties' political ideology is totally different."