This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7197507.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Thaksin allies unveil coalition Thaksin allies unveil coalition
(about 3 hours later)
Thailand's People Power Party (PPP) has announced a coalition government with five smaller parties, following December's elections. Thailand's People Power Party (PPP) has announced a new coalition government, ending weeks of uncertainty and marking a step towards restoring democracy.
The move came after a court dismissed legal challenges against the PPP, which won the largest share of the vote. The move came after a court dismissed legal challenges against the PPP, which won the most votes in December's polls.
The party is allied to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed by the military in 2006. The PPP, which has been joined by five smaller parties, is closely linked to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006.
Its opponents had claimed the party was merely a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who was banned from politics for five years. Critics said the PPP was a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who was banned from politics.
The PPP's leader Samak Sundaravej told a news conference on Saturday that it had taken "a long time to get here" but the coalition's two-thirds majority meant "the government can last a long time". The billionaire went into self-imposed exile in London and still faces corruption charges.
Mr Samak said parliament would reconvene on Monday, when a new prime minister would be chosen. Correspondents say the coalition government's installation next week will be a significant step back to democracy after military leaders are widely perceived to have mishandled the economy while in power.
The name must then be submitted to King Bhumibol Adulyadej for approval - a formality that usually takes a few days. Long wait
Mr Samak, 72, who served as deputy prime minister alongside Mr Thaksin in 1995, adopted a populist platform for the election campaign and promised voters he would work to improve the economy. The PPP's leader, Samak Sundaravej, told a news conference on Saturday that the coalition "helps break a political deadlock" and should create a "fairly strong government".
"The country has gone through enough of a crisis and has wasted a lot of time," he said. "It's time we set forth to tackle problems."
COALITION PARTNERS People Power PartyChart Thai PartyPuea Pandin PartyRuam Jai Thai Chart PattanaMatchima ThipatayaPracharaj
The coalition is expected to control about 315 of the 480 seats in the lower house of Thailand's parliament. A number of seats have yet to be endorsed by the Election Commission, which has already disqualified four PPP wins and ordered others to face re-runs.
Mr Samak said parliament would reconvene on Monday, after which a new prime minister - widely expected to be 72-year-old PPP leader himself - will be chosen. The name must then be submitted to King Bhumibol Adulyadej for approval - a formality that usually takes a few days.
Mr Samak who served as deputy prime minister alongside Mr Thaksin in 1995, adopted a populist platform for the election campaign and promised voters he would work to improve the economy.
Return questionReturn question
The PPP won the most seats in December's national polls but several challenges threatened to prevent it from forming a government. The BBC's Andrew Harding in Bangkok says many people doubted the PPP would be allowed to make it this far.
Sixty five of the 233 seats it won have been investigated by the Election Commission - far more than any other party. Three were disqualified and others ordered to face re-runs. Several challenges had threatened to prevent the PPP from forming a government.
The Supreme Court had also heard a claim filed by Democrat candidate Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who alleged that the PPP was a proxy for Mr Thaksin's dissolved Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party and should therefore be banned. As well as the Election Commission investigations, the Supreme Court heard a claim filed by Democrat candidate Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who alleged that the PPP was a proxy for Mr Thaksin's dissolved Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party and should therefore be banned.
Many TRT members went on to form the PPP.Many TRT members went on to form the PPP.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says many in Thailand had started to believe that Mr Thaksin's opponents, who wield huge influence behind the scenes, would use the judiciary to keep his allies from office. Our correspondent says Mr Thaksin is now talking of returning to Thailand within months, but suggests he will have to tread carefully if Thailand is to avoid more political turmoil.
The next big question confronting Thailand as it returns to democratic rule, he says, is when Mr Thaksin will come home and whether he will be allowed to play a political role again.