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 King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 81, has suffered from a soar throat and slight fever for several days, media reports said Saturday citing the Royal Household Bureau.

A statement issued by the bureau late Friday said the king had suffered a sore throat since Wednesday, forcing doctors to put him on a liquid diet, and had a slight fever.

"A blood test on Wednesday showed evidence of infection, but found no trace of bacteria in blood or sputum samples," said the bureau's statement.

Bangkok  - The ex-wife of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has made a surprise return to Thailand at a time when the country's political parties are jockeying among themselves to form a new coalition government.

Pojaman Damapong, who has resumed her maiden name after divorcing Thkasin on November 14, arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport from Hong Kong at 10:30 pm Friday.

Bangkok  - Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport resumed full operations Friday after being shut down for a week by protestors as part of their campaign to topple the government.

More than 100 international and domestic flights were expected to use the airport on Friday, said the Bangkok Post online news service.

Acting Transport Minister Santi Promphat together with officials from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) inspected Suvarnabhumi's readiness Friday morning.