Thai parliament picks new PM

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Thai parliament picks new PM
« Thread Started on Dec 15, 2008, 1:10am »

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Thai parliament picks new PM
Posted: 12:05 AM ET
BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) — Thailand’s parliament chose opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as the country’s new prime minister Monday, drawing angry protests from supporters of the recently dissolved ruling party outside.

About 150 supporters of the former People Power Party, which was tossed from office by a Constitutional Court ruling earlier this month, threw bricks and chunks of pavement at departing vehicles. But Bunranaj Smutharak, a spokesman for Abhisit’s Democrat Party, said he was unsurprised by the protests.

“It has been known for quite some time that if the incumbent government loses the vote, it will resort to violence,” he said. However, he added that the incoming prime minister “needs to send a clear signal of change that he is a leader who will reach out to all.”