BANGKOK - THAILAND'S four-month-old government is optimistic it will win a vote of no confidence, a top parliamentarian said on Thursday as a three-day censure debate drew to a close.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and seven cabinet ministers have been grilled for three days by opposition MPs who claim the fledgling government has been grossly mismanaged.

Foremost among the accusations levied against Mr Samak was that he has acted on behalf of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by royalist generals in 2006 and charged with widespread corruption.

'We are confident that the government will win the vote of confidence tomorrow,' Mr Samart said.

To survive the motion, the government must win a simple majority of the 480-seat lower house.

'The vote will take place at 0230 GMT (10.30 pm) Friday and then the House of Representatives will begin to debate the budget bill,' House Speaker Chai Chidchob told reporters.

Mr Samak has vowed to step down if he loses the vote, but that appears unlikely since his six-party coalition controls about two-thirds of the chamber.

The premier, known for fiery outbursts, has appeared calm throughout the debate - he was photographed folding paper cranes during one of the sessions.

The censure debate has raised points of controversy large and small surrounding his administration, which took power after winning elections in December that ended more than a year of military rule.

The government is accused of failing to handle soaring food prices, not defending the revered monarchy, and handing control of a disputed heritage site to Cambodia, among other issues.

Opposition lawmakers also questioned Mr Samak's mental health and his fondness for sugary drinks.

The censure debate had been scheduled to finish on Wednesday, but parliament extended it by one day since many opposition members were lining up to have their say.

Outside parliament, the prime minister still faces street protests by the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has camped outside his offices since Friday.

The PAD led protests against Mr Thaksin in the months before the coup, and its latest demonstrations have raised fears of a new takeover, which has sent investors fleeing the Thai stock market.

The group's rallies exert a strong influence because its leadership is seen as a reflection of the traditional power centres in the palace and the military.

Mr Thaksin had antagonised Bangkok's elite with policies such as free health care that endeared him to the populous rural heartland.

Mr Samak had campaigned openly as a proxy for Mr Thaksin, but on Tuesday he tried to distance himself from the billionaire, who is still loathed by the Bangkok elite. -- AFP

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