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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Thaksin ally elected as Thai PM | Thaksin ally elected as Thai PM |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thailand's parliament has elected a new prime minister - restoring civilian leadership 16 months after the military seized power in a bloodless coup. | |
| Samak Sundaravej, a supporter of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, defeated his closest rival by 310 votes to 163. | |
| Mr Samak's People Power Party (PPP) won the largest share of the vote in a general election held last December - the first since the 2006 coup. | |
| It has formed a governing coalition with five smaller parties. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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? | 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. | 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 and a popular TV chef, 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. | "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. | "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. |
| Mr Samak is under investigation for alleged corruption and is appealing against a separate conviction for defamation. | |
| The BBC's Andrew Harding, in Bangkok, says Thailand's slow journey back towards a fully-functioning democracy is likely to be a bumpy one. | |
| An elected parliament last met in Thailand in February 2006, before Mr Thaksin called a snap election. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |