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| Thai party 'drops Samak for PM' | Thai party 'drops Samak for PM' |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Thailand's ruling party has dropped ousted PM Samak Sundaravej as its nominee for the job, say party sources. | Thailand's ruling party has dropped ousted PM Samak Sundaravej as its nominee for the job, say party sources. |
| The decision marks an apparent U-turn by the People's Power Party (PPP), which earlier seemed determined to re-nominate him to the post. | The decision marks an apparent U-turn by the People's Power Party (PPP), which earlier seemed determined to re-nominate him to the post. |
| Protesters have been demanding for weeks that Mr Samak should resign. | Protesters have been demanding for weeks that Mr Samak should resign. |
| The apparent confirmation that he is no longer in contention for the post may pave the way for a settlement of the political crisis, analysts say. | The apparent confirmation that he is no longer in contention for the post may pave the way for a settlement of the political crisis, analysts say. |
| Mr Samak had vowed not to bow to the protesters' demands, but was eventually forced out earlier this week, over an apparently unrelated appearance in a TV cookery show. | Mr Samak had vowed not to bow to the protesters' demands, but was eventually forced out earlier this week, over an apparently unrelated appearance in a TV cookery show. |
| The protesters call him a puppet for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in an army coup in 2006 amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power. | The protesters call him a puppet for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in an army coup in 2006 amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power. |
| New candidates | New candidates |
| Reports are confused as to whether the pressure to drop Mr Samak came from within the ruling party or from its five coalition partners. | Reports are confused as to whether the pressure to drop Mr Samak came from within the ruling party or from its five coalition partners. |
| The Associated Press news agency quoted PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang as saying the party had short-listed three party members as its prime ministerial nominee, though they were not named.Mr Samak was a TV chef before becoming prime minister | |
| The party will need to agree on a compromise candidate before Wednesday, when parliament has scheduled a new vote for prime minister. | The party will need to agree on a compromise candidate before Wednesday, when parliament has scheduled a new vote for prime minister. |
| Earlier on Friday, a planned vote in the Thai parliament to re-elect Mr Samak as prime minister was postponed because too few MPs turned up. | Earlier on Friday, a planned vote in the Thai parliament to re-elect Mr Samak as prime minister was postponed because too few MPs turned up. |
| Thousands of protesters who have been holding a sit-in outside Government House calling for Mr Samak's resignation were enraged by his re-nomination. | Thousands of protesters who have been holding a sit-in outside Government House calling for Mr Samak's resignation were enraged by his re-nomination. |
| Protesters pledged to continue their protest until a suitable replacement for Mr Samak was found - a scenario which may now have materialised, say correspondents. | Protesters pledged to continue their protest until a suitable replacement for Mr Samak was found - a scenario which may now have materialised, say correspondents. |
| Although the PPP is the largest party in parliament, it does not have an outright majority and four of its five coalition partners had already said they wanted an alternative candidate. | Although the PPP is the largest party in parliament, it does not have an outright majority and four of its five coalition partners had already said they wanted an alternative candidate. |
| On top of that, Mr Samak also faces disqualification again later this month if the verdict in a defamation case goes against him. | On top of that, Mr Samak also faces disqualification again later this month if the verdict in a defamation case goes against him. |