A week before Thailand votes in general elections, opinion polls show the largest opposition party, Pheu Thai, leading the ruling Democrats.

The party is led Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

But there still remains the question of the army, which has staged or attempted 18 coups in the past, most recently in 2006.

That was when it removed Thaksin, who was later convicted of corruption and abuse of power.

Some believe the army will intervene again to prevent the party, which Thaksin controls from exile, taking office.

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay spoke to Yingluck in Khon Kaen province in northeast Thailand.