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| Thai coalition looking for new PM | Thai coalition looking for new PM |
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| Thailand's coalition has met to decide who should replace Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a day after he was stripped of office by the Constitutional Court. | Thailand's coalition has met to decide who should replace Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a day after he was stripped of office by the Constitutional Court. |
| He has not been seen in public since it was ruled he broke the rules by getting paid to host a TV cookery show. | He has not been seen in public since it was ruled he broke the rules by getting paid to host a TV cookery show. |
| Parliament is due to elect 73-year-old Mr Samak's successor on Friday. | Parliament is due to elect 73-year-old Mr Samak's successor on Friday. |
| His People Power Party (PPP), the biggest in the six-member coalition, appeared to back away from an earlier pledge to re-nominate him as PM. | His People Power Party (PPP), the biggest in the six-member coalition, appeared to back away from an earlier pledge to re-nominate him as PM. |
| "What the party spokesman said yesterday was not the party's resolution. Our resolution is the next prime minister must come from the People Power Party," Reuters news agency quoted finance minister and PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee as saying. | "What the party spokesman said yesterday was not the party's resolution. Our resolution is the next prime minister must come from the People Power Party," Reuters news agency quoted finance minister and PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee as saying. |
| 'Fuel the fire' | 'Fuel the fire' |
| The second-largest of the coalition partners, the Chart Thai Party, said the PPP should not re-nominate Mr Samak. | The second-largest of the coalition partners, the Chart Thai Party, said the PPP should not re-nominate Mr Samak. |
| POLITICAL CRISIS 26 Aug: Protesters occupy government buildings, demand the government step down28 Aug: PM Samak promises no use of force against the protesters30 Aug: Samak rules out resignation, after meeting with Thailand's king 1 Sept: A late-night clash between pro- and anti-government groups leaves one dead. Samak declares a state of emergency4 Sept: Samak proposes a national referendum9 Sept: Court orders Samak to resign for violating constitution Q&A: Bangkok protests | POLITICAL CRISIS 26 Aug: Protesters occupy government buildings, demand the government step down28 Aug: PM Samak promises no use of force against the protesters30 Aug: Samak rules out resignation, after meeting with Thailand's king 1 Sept: A late-night clash between pro- and anti-government groups leaves one dead. Samak declares a state of emergency4 Sept: Samak proposes a national referendum9 Sept: Court orders Samak to resign for violating constitution Q&A: Bangkok protests |
| Chart Thai's leader, Banharn Silpa-Archa - who as prime minister a decade ago presided over a currency collapse that triggered an Asian economic crisis - told Reuters he had ruled himself out. | Chart Thai's leader, Banharn Silpa-Archa - who as prime minister a decade ago presided over a currency collapse that triggered an Asian economic crisis - told Reuters he had ruled himself out. |
| The mood in Thailand was tense on Wednesday as the governing coalition met a day after Mr Samak became the first Thai PM to be stripped of office by a court order. | The mood in Thailand was tense on Wednesday as the governing coalition met a day after Mr Samak became the first Thai PM to be stripped of office by a court order. |
| Suthep Thuagsuban, secretary-general of the Democrat Party, told AP news agency that re-appointing Mr Samak would only "fuel the fire in the country and it could lead to chaos". | Suthep Thuagsuban, secretary-general of the Democrat Party, told AP news agency that re-appointing Mr Samak would only "fuel the fire in the country and it could lead to chaos". |
| For the past two weeks, the Thai government has been paralysed by thousands of protesters who have occupied its headquarters, demanding Mr Samak quit. | For the past two weeks, the Thai government has been paralysed by thousands of protesters who have occupied its headquarters, demanding Mr Samak quit. |
| The demonstrators said they would continue to besiege Government House, while waiting to see who parliament selects as the new prime minister. | The demonstrators said they would continue to besiege Government House, while waiting to see who parliament selects as the new prime minister. |
| Bangkok dangerous? | Bangkok dangerous? |
| 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. | 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. |
| Deputy PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat is acting as a caretaker prime minister until the new premier is named. | Deputy PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat is acting as a caretaker prime minister until the new premier is named. |
| Protesters are still laying siege to Government House | Protesters are still laying siege to Government House |
| But correspondents say his new role could fan Thailand's political flames as he is the brother-in-law of Mr Thaksin. | But correspondents say his new role could fan Thailand's political flames as he is the brother-in-law of Mr Thaksin. |
| Mr Samak has not been banned from standing again as prime minister. | |
| A self-proclaimed foodie, he hosted a popular TV cooking show, Tasting and Grumbling, for seven years before becoming PM and continued to present the programme for two months after taking office. | A self-proclaimed foodie, he hosted a popular TV cooking show, Tasting and Grumbling, for seven years before becoming PM and continued to present the programme for two months after taking office. |
| The court ruled on Tuesday that the prime minister's television starring role had breached a constitutional bar on private employment while in office. | The court ruled on Tuesday that the prime minister's television starring role had breached a constitutional bar on private employment while in office. |
| Thailand's political tensions boiled over in bloodshed last week, when a man was killed in clashes between pro and anti-government groups in Bangkok. | Thailand's political tensions boiled over in bloodshed last week, when a man was killed in clashes between pro and anti-government groups in Bangkok. |