Thai parliament elects Thaksin brother-in-law as new PM

Bangkok: Thailand's parliament elected Somchai Wongsawat, a brother-in-law of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, as the country's new prime minister on Wednesday.

Somchai, who has been serving as acting prime minister since Samak Sundaravej was ousted from office, won a majority of votes in parliament.

Meanwhile, a Thai court postponed a ruling on corruption charges against Thaksin and his wife, issuing new arrest warrants for the two.

Thaksin and Potjaman Shinawatra deny any wrongdoing in a Bangkok land deal probed by graft investigators appointed after Thaksin was deposed in 2006.