Thaksin loyalists look desperate to stay on

Loyalists of exiled former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tried desperately to remain in power yesterday, even offering the prime minister's job to smaller parties that have abandoned their coalition and joined the opposition.

The offer came a day after the opposition Democrat Party announced that it is ready to form the next government after mustering the support of about 250 lawmakers in the 480-member lower house of Parliament. It said enough members from the pro-Thaksin coalition have defected to give the Democrats the required number.

"The number of lawmakers that the Democrats have is 250ish," said Buranaj Smutharaks, a Democrat Party spokesman.