Thai opposition head to be new PM

The speaker of the lower house, Chai Chidchob, said the Democrat Party leader had beaten former police chief Pracha Promnok by 235 votes to 198. Mr Abhisit will become Thailand's fifth leader in a little over two years. The previous prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, was forced to resign after a court ruling earlier this month.

Petitioners in China 'abducted'

The authorities in the eastern Chinese city of Xintai have been abducting citizens who make complaints, according to a state newspaper. These people are held in mental hospitals until they withdraw their complaints, the Beijing News reports.

news

The Democrat Party will propose that its leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, becomes the next prime minister.Thailand's ruling party was dissolved last week by the courts, after being found guilty of electoral fraud.But some of its supporters have formed a new party, Phuea Thai, and insist they can also form a new government. The BBC correspondent in Bangkok says any administration that emerges is likely to be a messy coalition.

news

Five relatives of people who died in the attacks on America are being flown in by the US military to watch the proceedings from the viewing gallery.They will be separated from Mr Mohammed and his four co-defendants by glass.He and the others face death if convicted of a role in killing 2,973 people in the suicide plane attacks.

news

At least 100,000 foreign visitors have been unable to leave the country since the anti-government activists occupied the international airport last week.

Meanwhile, protesters are vacating a central government complex after an occupation of more than three months.

The protest has struck a large blow to Thailand's economy, say correspondents.

Tourism is a major source of revenue for the country, and the crisis will also have knock-on effects for Thailand's neighbours, because Bangkok is a major international hub, they say.

Thailand's deputy premier for economic affairs is reported to be meeting senior figures in commerce, industry and tourism on Monday to discuss the damage being done by the protest siege.