New Prime Minister elected

Somchai Wongsawat was elected as Thailand's new prime minister on 17 September 2008 after winning a large majority of the votes in Parliament. The election is unlikely to end the country's continuing political crisis, as Somchai is the brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is currently in exile in London. Members of the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) accuse Somchai of being an agent for Thaksin and have announced plans to continue their occupation of the prime minister's compound. Somchai had been previously installed as acting prime minister after his predecessor Samak Sundaravej was forced to step down.