All eyes will today focus on the annual military parade at the Royal Plaza and on the Constitution Court, which would be hearing closing statements of the three political parties accused of having committed electoral fraud.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his Cabinet are scheduled to attend the military parade in Bangkok, presided over by Their Majesties the King and the Queen. But so far, Somchai, since his return from Peru last Wednesday, has opted to stay in Chiang Mai due to the political turbulence in Bangkok after the takeover of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports by anti-government protesters.

Moreover, his shaky government is going through the country's worst political crisis since 1979, leading to rampant speculation of another coup to end the deadlock.

A government spokesman said Somchai would attend the military parade in Bangkok, held by the Army, the Air Force and the Royal Thai Navy.

Yesterday, Somchai spoke through video conference to a Buddhist gathering in Phuttamonthon, which organised a prayer for His Majesty the King's 81st Birthday.

The Constitution Court will hear the closing statements from the leaders of the People Power Party, the Chart Thai Party and the Matchima Party over charges of electoral fraud. If found guilty, these political parties could be disbanded and their executives banned from politics for five years.

But the Constitution Court has not scheduled a date for handing down the verdicts. One political source said the verdicts might be delivered tomorrow.

If the People Power Party were to be found guilty, Somchai would lose his premiership and his Cabinet would have to go with him. However, a deputy prime minister, who is not a party executive, might be appointed to succeed Somchai.

Supporters of the People Power Party wearing red shirts have vowed to apply pressure on the Constitution Court. This has prompted the Metropolitan Police Bureau to send some 500 police officers to provide security at the Court today. Another 500 police officers would stand by at their stations if more mobilisation is needed.

"I don't believe there will be any big problem," said Pol Lt-General Suporn Khongsua, the spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. "If the situation is serious, we can ask for reinforcements from the military."

While the Chart Thai and Matchima Party leaders planned to present their closing statements before the Constitution Court, the People Power Party is not sending anyone.

Yuenyad Jaisamut, PPP legal representative in charge of the case, said the party had yesterday petitioned the court, opposing three of the nine Constitution Court judges as well as the court's order not to have any further hearings. It also opposed the court's rejection of a plea by People Power executives and members to defend themselves as individuals.

The judges the party opposes are Charan Pakdithanakul, Wasan Soipisut and Nurak Mapraneet.

"The case cannot be closed [today] as the court must clear our petition first. It must prove that its judges do not have any bias against the PPP and clarify how its order was not against the Constitution," he said.

He said stopping the hearings was a violation of the defendants' rights.