POLITICAL tensions are building to danger point in Thailand as exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra steps up his struggle to regain power over the next few months, analysts warn.

The goal is to force the government to dissolve the House of Representatives before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders can rule on a pivotal corruption case against Thaksin.

As much as S$3.2 billion of Thaksin's assets rides on the verdict, which is expected sometime next month. Thaksin and his former wife are accused of concealing assets and augmenting them while he was in power.

As a result of this timeline, analysts said, serious political confrontation - and possibly violence - could erupt during the upcoming months when Thaksin and his allies inside Parliament and on the streets employ an arsenal of tactics.

Mr Pummarat Thaksadipong, former director of the National Intelligence Agency, said pro-Thaksin MPs would disrupt the work of Parliament while protest leaders instigated hatred against the government.

Mr Pummarat said Thaksin was expected to "make his heaviest blow with the use of all the means he has".

Senator Paiboon Nititawan, meanwhile, said violence could explode as it did in April when Thaksin's supporters stage street protests starting this weekend.

"The aim is to cause violence and deaths. But in the April incident, the attempt failed because there were no deaths," he said, referring to the Songkran riots. "Now all the actors from the April incident (are on hand)."

Leaders of the pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt" activists said earlier that the anti-government rally scheduled for this weekend would continue until the government collapsed.

Senator Kamnoon Sithisamarn said he was convinced next month would be a "really difficult period" for politics, starting with the rally.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will chair a meeting of security agencies today to discuss measures to deal with the impending rally, a security source said.

Besides Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban - who is in charge of security affairs - defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan, top military brass and acting police chief Patheep Tanprasert will attend.

Yesterday, the Thai government approved the use of the tough Internal Security Act from this Saturday to December 14.

The law allows troops to impose curfews, operate checkpoints, restrict movements of protesters and act fast if rallies by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship - the Red Shirts - turn violent.

-The Nation/Asia News Network