Bangkok - Thailand's new Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, was warned by the opposition Democrat Party on Sunday not to include any of former-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's allies in the new cabinet to be appointed this week. Somchai, who was appointed last Thursday, has wide support in Bangkok, according to early surveys. Opposition forces are, however, wary of Somchai because he is Thaksin's brother-in-law.
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.
The military charged Thaksin with massive corruption and other charges.
Meanwhile negotiations between the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will wait until after Somchai forms his cabinet, PAD leaders said Sunday.
PAD core leader Maj. Gen. Chamlong Srimuang said their position remains unchanged, in that the 2007 Constitution must not be changed and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) must leave.
The PAD had demanded the resignation of former prime minister Samak Sundaravej, who lost his post on September 9 when the Constitution court found him guilty of moonlighting by hosting television cooking shows.
The PAD, a loose coalition of groups staunchly opposed to Thaksin and his return to power, accused Samak of being a "proxy" for the coup-ousted premier.
PAD supporters took over Government House on August 26, the traditional seat of the administration, and have illegally occupied it since.
Also Sunday the newly-formed Puea Thai party unveiled itself, founded by Yaowapa, the younger sister of Thaksin.
