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Thaksin ally elected as new Thai prime minister

Thai lawmakers elected Samak Sundaravej, an ally of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as the nation’s new prime minister Monday, restoring civilian leadership after 16 months of military rule. The election of Samak cements a stunning political turnaround for Thaksin, who was toppled by the military in a September 2006 coup and has been living ever since in self-imposed exile.

Samak, a 72-year-old veteran politician in his own right, has promised to bring Thaksin back to Thailand despite the criminal corruption charges facing him in the courts.

He won 310 votes in the vote by members of parliament, defeating opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party who won 163 seats.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080128/wl_asia_afp/thailandpolitics_080128095608