Thai prime minister removed by court

An anti-government protestor attends a demonstration as he stands next to a placard depicting Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej with horns, inside the Government House in Bangkok on September 9 (AFP/Saeed Khan).

Cooking show stint derails Thai prime minister

Ambika Ahuja (AP, 9/9/08)

BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Thai court removed the prime minister Tuesday for taking pay to host a TV cooking show, setting off wild celebrations by protesters occupying his office compound. But rejoicing could be short-lived — the ruling party vowed to put him back in power. The Constitutional Court's ruling took Samak Sundaravej at least temporarily out of the cross-hairs of the People's Alliance for Democracy, a rightist movement that seized the Government House complex two weeks ago seeking to force the prime minister's resignation.

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But the ruling seemed unlikely to end the political crisis brought on by the alliance's demands for a sea change in Thai politics, beginning with Samak's ouster and eventually moving Thailand away from democracy in favor of a mostly appointed legislature. After the verdict, Samak's political party vowed to re-elect him as prime minister, as allowed by law.

Protesters said they would hold on to Government House while waiting to see who Parliament selects as prime minister, a vote expected Friday. If Samak or anyone tied to disgraced former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is picked, the occupation will continue, alliance spokesman Suriyasai Katasila told The Associated Press. More>>

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Anti-government protesters celebrate at Government House as they hear the announcement that Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had lost a crucial court case Tuesday Sept. 9, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Samak lost a court case Tuesday forcing his resignation (AP Photo/Ed Wray).