The poll by the Assumption University of Thailand said that of 3,404 people surveyed, 55.6 per cent said Thailand might have a coup during the next six months and 54.6 per cent expected some unexpected, violent event to occur.

Only 53.6 per cent of respondents surveyed from May 6-10 expected Mr Samak Sundaravej to remain in the office as prime minister.

Thailand has a long history of coups, the most recent in 2006, when the military unseated prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Some 87.8 per cent of people said they expected to face more expensive commodity prices and 80.1 per cent were braced for increased crime. -- AFP