Phnom Penh - Cambodia said Wednesday that it was concerned about Thailand's ability to host the upcoming summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in December

Cambodia sympathized deeply with Thailand during its period of political turmoil and was suggesting a contingency plan for the scheduled summit of leaders of the 
10-member bloc, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith, said in an official clarification issued by the Information Ministry.

Bangkok - Thai Parliament opened a special session Wednesday to vote in a new prime minister, slated to new Somcahi Wongsawat, the brother-in-law of coup-ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Somchai on Tuesday secured the nomination of his People Power Party and its five coalition partners, who together hold 306 of the 480 seats in the Lower House.

Somchai, 61, is married to Yaowapa, the younger sister of Thaksin who was toppled by a military coup on September 19, 2006, after holding the premiership since 2001.

Bangkok  - Somchai Wongsawat, the brother-in-law of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on Tuesday secured the full backing of the People Power Party to become the country's next premier after a party rift failed to scuttle his nomination.

"The People Power Party has reached a consensus to nominate Somchai as the next prime minister," said PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang.

The PPP was scheduled to meet with its five coalition partners Tuesday night to get their backing for Somchai's nomination, which is scheduled for a confirmation vote in Parliament on Wednesday.

Bangkok  - Thai shares lost 2.8 per cent of their value Tuesday as the Bangkok bourse felt the full impact of Wall Street's declines.

Phnom Penh - The United States advocated a bilateral solution to the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said Tuesday.

Wrapping up a three-day official visit during which he met Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Prime Minister Hun Sen, Negroponte said the US hoped to see a peaceful end to the dispute between the two neighbours.

Bangkok - Thailand's Supreme Court for political office holders on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra for failing to appear in court to face abuse-of-power charges.

The court case, involving a 4-billion-baht (116-million-dollar) soft loan to the Myanmar government in 2004 by Thailand's state-owned EXIM Bank when Thaksin was still prime minister, has been suspended.

Thaksin has been living in self-exile in London since August 10.