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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Court says Thai PM 'must resign' | Court says Thai PM 'must resign' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has been ordered to resign after being found guilty of violating the constitution over a TV cookery show. | Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has been ordered to resign after being found guilty of violating the constitution over a TV cookery show. |
| His entire cabinet has also been ordered to step down. | His entire cabinet has also been ordered to step down. |
| Mr Samak was found to have violated a ban on ministers having outside interests by taking money from a private company to host a TV show. | Mr Samak was found to have violated a ban on ministers having outside interests by taking money from a private company to host a TV show. |
| However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has vowed to re-appoint Mr Samak as prime minister. | However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has vowed to re-appoint Mr Samak as prime minister. |
| Protests | |
| In court in Bangkok, Judge Chat Chonlaworn said that Mr Samak had "violated Article 267 of the constitution" and that "his position as prime minister has ended". | |
| Mr Samak cooking on television | |
| However, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says it is unclear what happens next. | |
| Mr Samak has not been banned from standing again for prime minister, and it will be 30 days before the court's decision comes into effect. | Mr Samak has not been banned from standing again for prime minister, and it will be 30 days before the court's decision comes into effect. |
| Thailand has had its fair share of crises recently, but this is one that even the Thais are baffled by, our correspondent says. | Thailand has had its fair share of crises recently, but this is one that even the Thais are baffled by, our correspondent says. |
| For the past two weeks, the Thai government has been paralysed by thousands of protesters who have occupied its office, calling for Mr Samak to resign. | |
| Protesters accuse Mr Samak of being a proxy for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in an army coup in 2006 amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power. | |
| One man was killed in clashes between pro- and anti-government groups in Bangkok last week, prompting the government to impose emergency rule in the capital. |