'We still love each other and our brotherhood remains intact,' he said.

Gen Sonthi, who went on to become Deputy Prime Minister last year after retiring from the army, said his conversation with Thaksin, who is in Hong Kong, was arranged by a mutual friend and took place before the former premier's wife Pojaman returned to Bangkok on Jan 8.

He also defended his actions, saying the coup d'etat had not been a waste - and added that he respected the people's judgment which has brought Thaksin's loyalists, in the form of the People Power Party, back to power.

At the time, Gen Sonthi justified the coup by citing Thaksin's alleged corruption and cronyism, disloyalty to the monarchy, and impending bloodshed over Thailand's political crisis.

The revelation of the phone call confirms the assumption of many analysts that Pojaman would not have returned to Thailand without prior contact with the military-installed government, which has now handed over power to an elected government headed by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Gen Sonthi downplayed speculation on the political bargaining that most analysts say is taking place behind the scenes, telling reporters: 'I've spoken with Thaksin on the phone, as a brother. There are no political conditions, nor any hidden benefits.

'There are several people who are concerned about the nation. They want to see a peaceful country. So they advised that I speak to him, with the help of a mediator.'

The contact between the general and his former boss would seem to be part of the process of compromise that is a hallmark of Thai politics.

One analyst, who asked not to be named, told The Straits Times that 'a lot of this is about saving skins'.

The analyst added: 'Gen Sonthi is, at the end of the day, only a pawn in a bigger contest between Thaksin and Gen Prem Tinsulanonda.'

Gen Prem is an iconic former prime minister and, as Privy Council president, is the King's closest adviser.

He is widely seen as having orchestrated the coup against Thaksin because the billionaire was monopolising both economic and political power to an extent never held by any previous Thai prime minister - thus threatening the traditional domination of Bangkok's royalist-military elite.

Gen Sonthi's conversaton may also have some bearing on Thaksin's impending return to Thailand from self-exile after the coup.

The former premier faces corruption charges in Bangkok.

His wife, who faces the same charges, has pleaded not guilty and said Thaksin will return to the country in May.

The director of Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Security and International Studies, Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak, cautioned: 'It is still a daunting task for Thaksin to come back and return to politics. He still has a lot of enemies; they will not just stand by and do nothing.'

nirmal@sph.com.sg