Protesters lift siege of Bangkok airports after court bans PM

Published on Tuesday 2 December 2008 20:49

PROTESTERS promised to end their siege of Bangkok's airports yesterday after the prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, was ousted.

Some cargo flights resumed yesterday while passenger services from Bangkok international airport to Sydney and Rome are expected to resume on Friday.

This follows a decision by the nation's Constitutional Court to dissolve Thailand's coalition of three ruling parties for fraud in the 2007 vote that brought them to power.

Mr Somchai, who accepted the ruling, has been banned from politics for five years.

Weeks of protests have closed the capital's airports, stranding 300,000 travellers. Late on Monday, a bomb at Don Muang airport killed one person and wounded 22.

Thousands of stranded Britons were still struggling to leave yesterday. Some boarded 12 international flights laid on by the UK government. David Miliband, the foreign secretary, said UK officials in Thailand were doing all they could to liaise with airlines to fly people out of the country.

Appearances suggested a smooth transition, during which King Bhumibol, Thailand's revered monarch, attended the Trooping of the Colour ceremony as usual.

But the court's ruling was expected to widen the rift that many fear may lead to more violence between pro- and anti-government groups.

Most of the affected MPs are simply switching to a "shell" party, Puea Thailand, which was already lined up.

Parliament will pick a new prime minister within 30 days. Until then, deputy prime minister Chaowarat Chandeerakul will take charge.