Bangkok - The Democrat party secured the backing of four smaller parties Tuesday to form Thailand's next coalition government, but it remained unclear whether it was sufficient to guarantee their lead.
"We reaffirm that our four parties support the Democrats," said Sanan Kacharnprasart, the acting head of the Chart Thai party which together with the Puea Pendin, Matchimathipataya and Ruan Jai Chart Pattana parties have thrown their support behind the Democrats to lead the next government.
But it was unclear Tuesday whether the "Friends of Newin" faction within the defunct People Power Party (PPP) was still backing the Democrats.
Bangkok - The Democrat party on Monday asked for an extraordinary session of Parliament this week to vote on the nomination of a new prime minister, expected to be their leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaungsuban submitted the request to House Speaker Chai Chidchob, who will need a royal endorsement from Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is head of state, before reconvening parliament to set up a new coalition government.
Bangkok - The week-long closure of Bangkok's two airports expected to reduce Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.3 to 0.5 per cent in the last quarter of
2008, a government think tank revealed Monday.
The National Economic And Social Development Board (NESDB) has estimated that Thailand lost revenues amounting to 104 billion baht (3 billion dollars) because of the closures of Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang airport by anti-government protestors from November 26 to December 3, the Bangkok Post newspaper said.
Bangkok - A new Thai coalition government under the former opposition Democrat party took a step closer to reality Sunday when its chief rival acknowledged it had failed to set up a coalition.
Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, a leader of the Puea Thai Party, admitted that it was preparing to become the opposition.
The Democrat party announced Saturday night that it had mustered enough support from the "Friends of Newin" breakaway faction from the Puea Thai and its former allies the Chart Thai, Matchiamathipataya, Puea Paendin and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana parties to form a new coalition government.
Bangkok, Dec. 7 : Thailand''s main opposition Democratic Party has said that it can form a government with members of the ruling coalition that collapsed this week.
The move could end up freezing out allies of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, reports The Telegraph.
The surprise development came just days after a court stripped Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat of his position and disbanded the pro-Thaksin People Power Party in connection with a vote fraud case.
"We have agreed to form a government to revive the country''s economy and confidence," Sungthep Tuagsuban, secretary general of the main opposition Democrat Party, told reporters after meetings with the PPP''s former allies.
Bangkok - Thai shares jumped 4.5 per cent in value Monday on a combination of good news on both the international and domestic fronts. 
Bangkok - The Democrat party on Monday asked for an extraordinary session of Parliament this week to vote on the nomination of a new prime minister, expected to be their leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Bangkok - The week-long closure of Bangkok's two airports expected to reduce Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.3 to 0.5 per cent in the last quarter of 
