Thai ruling party accuses opposition of planning to oust gov't

BANGKOK (Xinhua) - Thai ruling party The Pheu Thai accused the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) of working on a four-step plan to overthrow the caretaker Yingluck Shinawatra administration by mid-April.

Anusorn Iamsa-ard, deputy spokesperson for the Pheu Thai Party, warned on Sunday that such a move would create a political vacuum - and lead to a violent confrontation between supporters of both sides.

The four steps are: removing Yingluck via an impeachment over alleged corruption so her seat will be vacant; removing all cabinet members by implicating them in corruption in order to prevent anyone stepping up to replace Yingluck; petitioning for the nullification of the February 2 election if a new government cannot be formed 30 days after the election date as stipulated by law; and banning of 308 MPs and senators who supported a bid to amend the charter.

Anusorn said PDRC chief Suthep Thaugsuban had referred to the " shaking of the mango tree so the fruit will fall down" theory. But he said Suthep risked uprooting the whole tree as they could not govern the country if the government was ousted through such means, because people, who hold the sovereign power, would not accept it.

He warned PDRC supporters to be mindful not to burn the whole country down as a result.

Meanwhile, according to report, the Red-Shirt movement will meet on Sunday. Some 4,000 leaders from around the nation are due to gather in Nakhon Ratchasima and come up with a plan to counter the PDRC's attempt to dislodge the Yingluck administration.