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Thai former PM Samak to resign as party leader

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-12 21:29

BANGKOK - Thailand's former prime minister Samak Sundaravej said he will end his role as leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), local media reported on Friday.

Former Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is questioned by journalists during his departure from Parliament in Bangkok on September 12, 2008. [Agencies]

Theerapon Nop-ampa, former Prime Minister's secretary general and Samak's aide, was quoted by The Nation news network as saying that Samak had done his best as leader of PPP and to protect the country's democracy.

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"From now on, everything and every decision will depend on the PPP," said Theerapon.

However he did not say when Samak will submit his resignation.

Earlier in the afternoon, PPP members said Samak had refused the nomination to contest the premier post.

On Friday morning, a scheduled Parliament meeting on voting for the new prime minister was canceled since the other five co-ruling parties, which announced to support Samak on Thursday, made a sudden change by not attending the voting session.

The House Speaker Chai Chidchob decided to hold the voting on next Wednesday.