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| Thaksin ally elected as Thai PM | Thaksin ally elected as Thai PM |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thailand's parliament has elected Samak Sundaravej, a supporter of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, as the country's new prime minister. | Thailand's parliament has elected Samak Sundaravej, a supporter of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, as the country's new prime minister. |
| Mr Samak, head of the People Power Party (PPP), defeated his closest rival by 310 votes to 163. | Mr Samak, head of the People Power Party (PPP), defeated his closest rival by 310 votes to 163. |
| The PPP won the largest share of the vote in elections held last December - the first since the military seized power in a coup in September 2006. | The PPP won the largest share of the vote in elections held last December - the first since the military seized power in a coup in September 2006. |
| It has formed a governing coalition with five smaller parties. | |
| Mr Samak's appointment will be formally approved by King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the next few days. | |
| "There will be no celebration. I will continue with my normal life," the 72-year-old said. | |
| "From now on, I have many more responsibilities on my shoulders. It won't be fun but I have to accept them." | |
| Thaksin's return? | |
| Mr Samak began his political career in the 1960s and has served as a cabinet minister several times - including a spell as interior minister in a 1970s military government. | |
| A former Bangkok governor, the veteran lawmaker is regarded as combative but charismatic. | |
| "He comes across as belligerent, aggressive and uncompromising," said Thitinan Pongsidhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. | |
| "But many people find him affable. He's kind of like your uncle. He's folksy, and not afraid to be a bit profane," he told the Associated Press news agency. | |
| An elected parliament last met in Thailand in February 2006, before Mr Thaksin called a snap election. | |
| The polls were later annulled and shortly afterwards the military seized power, installing an appointed legislature. | |
| December's general election was aimed at returning the country to democratic rule. | |
| Analysts believe the PPP's victory and Mr Samak's election as prime minister will pave the way for Mr Thaksin to end his self-imposed exile and return to Thailand. |