PM refuses comment on aide's future

       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has played down rumours his secretarygeneral Niphon Phromphan has resigned in protest over the appointment of Pol Gen Pateep Tanprasert as acting national police chief.
       If Mr Niphon has resigned, it would confirm a bitter divide among executives in the ruling Democrat Party over the selection for the top police post.
       Mr Niphon could not be contacted last night. He is known to side with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, the Democrat Party's secretarygeneral, who backs the nomination of deputy police chief Chumpol Manmai as the next chief, while Mr Abhisit prefers Pol Gen Pateep.
       Mr Abhisit declined to say whether Mr Niphon had handed him a resignation letter.
       "You have to ask Mr Niphon himself,"he said.
       The prime minister said he understood Mr Niphon has been ill and that he had not seen him over the past few days.
       Mr Abhisit also denied he had a conflict with Mr Niphon over the police chief nomination issue.
       Asked if he would have a private talk with Mr Niphon about the report on his resignation, Mr Abhisit said he wanted to talk to Mr Niphon but had not been able to reach him.
       Mr Suthep said it was possible Mr Niphon might be planning to resign but he had not seen a letter to confirm that Mr Niphon wanted to quit.
       He said if Mr Nibhon resigned as the prime minister's secretary-general, Mr Nibhon might no longer work as part of the government. He might only concentrate on his roles as the Democrats'deputy leader.
       Former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, chief adviser to the Democrat Party, did not confirmMr Niphon's resignation, saying he had heard the rumour but did not know if it was true.
       Mr Niphon, a former agriculture minister, is known as a long-time financial supporter of the Democrats.