Bangkok  - Thailand's new Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, kept the country guessing Monday, not yet making an expected cabinet announcement.

The hang up concerning appointments was within the coalition ruling People Power party (PPP), local media reported. PPP officials had said over the weekend that the cabinet would be named by Monday.

Other political parties in the coalition were satisfied with their allotments of posts with Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa, telling the local media Monday that there were no major changes with the post his party would have, so making for an easier transition.

Bangkok - Thai authorities illegally detained suspected arms' smuggler Viktor Bout and a US extradition request should be quashed, his lawyer argued in court Monday.

The United States is seeking Bout's extradition to face four charges of terrorism and judges in the Thai Criminal Court, who on Monday began hearing the case, said they would consider the move quash later.

The 41-year-old former Soviet army major was arrested in Bangkok on March 6 in a US-led sting operation that allegedly caught him making a deal with Colombian rebels.

Jakarta - Two-days of talks between the Thai government and representatives from Thailand's Muslim south hosted by Indonesia have achieved some progress in an attempt to end years of conflict that have claimed the lives of thousands of people, media reports said Monday.

The talks are being mediated by Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla as the presidential palace in Bogor, about 60 kilometres south of Jakarta, the presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.

Bangkok - Floods across much of Thailand have left 1

Bangkok - Thai shares rose 4.07 per cent Friday in tandem with an international rebound of bourses around the world.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand index ended at 624.83, up 24.45 points.

Phumhadorn Lapudomsuk, a broker at Asia Plus Securities, said gains around the world powered the rise in Thailand. He also predicted investors would sell shares next week to lock in profits from Friday's rebound.

Bangkok  - Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday officially endorsed the premiership of Somchai Wongsawat, the brother-in-law of coup-ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Thai parliament voted 298 to 163 in favour of Somchai's nomination as prime minister on Wednesday but under Thailand's constitutional monarchy the appointment is not official until it is approved by King Bhumibol, who is head of state.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob flew to Bhumibol's palace in Hua Hin, 150 kilometres south-west of Bangkok, Thursday afternoon to present Somchai's appointment to the king, who endorsed it.