Tensions are rising in Thailand's capital city as army leaders accuse opposition politicians of being disloyal to the country's revered king

Tensions are rising in Thailand's capital city as army leaders accuse opposition politicians of being disloyal to the country's revered king and some residents worry that planned elections will be blocked, by a coup or some other means.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he is preparing to dissolve Parliament and announce national elections next month, kicking off a campaign for a vote expected as soon as the end of June. He hopes the vote—the first since deadly protests erupted last year—will end five years of instability and violence and enable Southeast Asia's second-largest economy to build on its rapid recovery from the global economic slump.

But some analysts say there is still a risk the vote might not take place at all. In recent weeks, army commander Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has filed criminal complaints against several top opposition activists for allegedly insulting the monarchy—a serious crime here, and an allegation that could turn some voters against the opposition For Thais Party while also enraging some of its die-hard supporters.

Some military leaders fear that a national vote could allow supporters of ex-Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and is living in exile, an avenue back into power, according to people familiar with the situation.

On Thursday, pre-election anxiety got the better of many Thais when a satellite glitch knocked out television signals across the country and triggered rumors that a coup was already underway.

Military leaders have repeatedly denied any plans to launch a coup or otherwise influence the democratic process.

Members of the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy, which blockaded Thailand's main airport in 2008, are urging Mr. Abhisit to call off his election plan and allow an appointed government to take over instead. Prominent newspaper columnists are adding their weight to the campaign, saying Thailand won't be ready to have a peaceful election for four or five more years.

Some opposition leaders are skeptical the vote will push through, even if Mr. Abhisit does dissolve parliament. Nattawut Saikua, one of the key leaders of the opposition "Red Shirt" movement, worries that new election laws could be challenged in court and ruled unconstitutional, delaying indefinitely any election.

"I think there might only be a 50% chance of an election taking place," says Mr. Nattawut, who plans to run for the opposition For Thais Party.

Many Thais are also worried about the potential for instability even if an election is held. Neither Mr. Abhisit's Democrat Party nor Mr. Thaksin's backers will likely secure a majority of seats in Parliament, analysts predict. If that happens, it could lead to further violence as the two sides try to assume control of the government.

Mr. Abhisit has insisted the elections will be called soon. Under Thai law, he is required to call a vote by the end of this year.

The latest election maneuvering comes amid other sources of tension in Thailand, as the country's military clashed with Cambodian forces Friday over a bitterly disputed border, killing at least six soldiers. It was unclear what triggered the exchange of fire, which claimed the lives of three Thai soldiers and three Cambodians, but the years-old conflict over land near an ancient temple has inflamed nationalist passions in both countries.

On Saturday, Thailand rejected accusations it used chemical weapons against Cambodian troops in fighting that extended into a second day and forced thousands of civilians from their homes, according to the Associated Press.

Firing by both sides had ceased by noon, but Cambodia's defense ministry said at nightfall that the situation was "still tense," according to the AP.

Mr. Thaksin, a 61-year-old former telecommunications mogul who now lives abroad to avoid imprisonment on a corruption conviction, recently emerged from his self-imposed exile to talk with the international media and reiterate that the charges against him are politically motivated. He is also urging on his followers in a series of phone-ins and messages on Twitter.

Red Shirt protesters, including many who support Mr. Thaksin, have long contended that Thailand's armed forces and royalist establishment manipulate the country's democratic processes, which the military denies.

In protests last year, tens of thousands of the protesters blockaded large areas of central Bangkok and put a serious dent in the country's tourism industry. As the protests grew increasingly violent, with some demonstrators firing grenades into crowds of commuters, the army stepped in to contain the spreading conflict. A total of 91 people—the majority of them protesters—were killed in the subsequent skirmishes.

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