Suthep was speaking at a Chumphon hotel reception for four Democrat Party MPs in the province and 600 local party leaders.

The deputy PM hit out at both groups of protesters saying the country had been in political turmoil for three to four years because both used the media as their tools to mobilise the masses and instigate turmoil.

While the yellow shirts or the People's Alliance for Democracy had ASTV, Phuchadkarn newspaper group, the red shirts had local radio stations and PTV which could mobilise hundreds of thousand people to burn down cities.

"It is a pity the majority of people do nothing or do not act against this," he said.

He said the Democrat Party treated everyone without discrimination and in the public interest, not in the interest of Thaksin nor of Sondhi.

"If you ask me, I say both are as evil. I speak frankly because both place their own interests above the country's interests. Both have caused so much turmoil," he said.

He called on the silent powers to act against Sondhi and Chamlong Srimuang who have announced a major rally on December 11.

"If there is no support, let Sondhi and Chamlong rally alone, see how far they can go," he said.

Meanwhile Pheu Thai Party party list MP Jatuporn Promphan said the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship had resolved to appoint a new team, led by Thida Tawornset, wife of weng Tochirakarn, to be caretakers of the UDD to lead the red-shirt movement.

The new UDD leaders would meet on December 1.

Jatuporn also called on the red shirts not to go the Constitution Court today to hear the verdict on the party dissolution case against the Democrat Party to prevent any further problems.

-- The Nation/Asia News Network