02 December 2008

Court bans Thailand's ruling party

BANGKOK - Thailand's Constitutional Court has dissolved the main ruling party and banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics for five years over a case of voting fraud.

"As the court decided to dissolve the People Power Party (PPP), therefore the leader of the party and party executives must be banned from politics for five years,'' said Chat Chonlaworn, head of the nine-judge court panel.

"The court had no other option,'' he said.

Thirty-six party executives were also banned from politics for five years.

It is unclear what effect the court ruling will have on anti-government demonstrators blocking entry to Bangkok's two main airports, but it is hoped that the judges' decision will hasten the end of the turmoil which has left more than 250,000 travellers stranded.

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