Authorities fear chaos will erupt next Wednesday, when the verdicts in the party dissolution cases are handed down.

With the prime minister scheduled to be out of the country, the military would control the situation.

The government is ready to declare an emergency decree in Bangkok, anticipating feared chaos. Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said the government has closely examined the situation and concluded that disorder is likely.

Gen Boonrawd expressed confidence that the Council for National Security (CNS) could control the situation during the absence of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who is scheduled to visit China from May 28 to 31.

If there are any untoward incidents, Gen Surayud would immediately fly back to Thailand, he said.

He said an emergency decree would be issued if the situation warrants, but it would be the government and not the CNS that issues it.

It was the duty of police to control the groups of people which are expected to gather in Bangkok to show support for political parties which are facing the threat of dissolution.

Acting national police chief Seripisuth Temiyavej said security measures have been put in place to cope with possible violence on May 29, when individual judges will issue their opinions, and on May 30, when the Constitution Tribunal will issue its formal verdict.

He said police, soldiers and the city administration were joining forces to deal with any incidents during this period.

He urged people to stay at home, as the rulings would be broadcast on radio and television.

Metropolitan police chief Adisorn Nonsee said he did not expect any clashes between opposing sides as the Constitution Court and surrounding area could accommodate only 3,000 to 4,000 people at a time.

He did threaten action against mahouts if they brought their elephants to the city to join the protests, as has been rumoured.

Both the mahouts and their elephants would be arrested, he said.

Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn said five or six companies of police would be dispatched to the venues where demonstrators were expected to gather. All police leave had been cancelled during this period.

CNS chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday met local leaders in Nakhon Ratchasima province, in what was seen as a bid to prevent demonstrators from travelling to Bangkok next week.

Speaking to more than 800 village heads and kamnans, Gen Sonthi urged local leaders and residents to unite, to join hands with the military and state agencies to protect the country.

He said he was not worried about reports that northeastern people may join anti-military rallies in Bangkok, saying over 70% of the country’s soldiers hailed from the Northeast.

Sophon Supapong, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, urged the government to take legal action against people involved in corruption and vested interests.

He also called for the abrogation of legislation that promotes corruption _ such as the State Enterprises Corporatisation Act, which provides the framework for the conversion of state enterprise assets into capital _ and for more timely action to deal with the southern unrest.

Mr Sophon said the government had not made much progress in these areas in the eight months that it had been in power

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