When Gen Apirat Kongsompong was appointed new army chief in the annual military reshuffle, it was generally assumed his job was to further cement the current regime's position.

So his recent refusal to rule out another coup if fresh political unrest breaks out after a general election was never likely to raise too many eyebrows. However, it also provided a glimpse ahead to future political scenarios that may play out, according to a source in the military.

The army commander was responding to a question during a press conference last week asking whether he would be prepared to stage another coup.