Thaksin's in-law elected new Thai PM
The Associated Press, Bangkok | Wed, 09/17/2008 10:49 AM
Lawmakers have elected the
brother-in-law of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as the
new prime minister of Thailand.
Parliament voted 298-163 on Wednesday in favor of Somchai
Wongsawat, 61, who was education minister and is married to
Thaksin's younger sister.
The prospect of a prime minister related to the disgraced,
deposed Thaksin was unlikely to disperse anti-government protesters
who have been camped at the prime minister's official compound since
Aug. 26.
Thaksin was deposed in a 2006 coup and is currently in exile in
London, where he fled to escape corruption charges at home.
The ruling People's Power Party and its governing coalition hold
306 of the lower house's 480 seats. Ten lawmakers were disqualified
from voting.
