THAILAND

Thailand Slips Further into Chaos as Court Dissolves Government - Anne Barrowclough, The Times

Thailand's government has been disbanded and the Prime Minister barred from politics for five years in a court ruling that has prompted fears of a slide into civil war.

The Constitutional Court was widely expected to find the government guilty of electoral fraud and order its dissolution, but its ruling has renewed fears of violence and caused some to question whether the country has a functioning government anymore.

Hours before the court hearing a grenade was fired from a flyover near the domestic airport hours, killing one anti-government protester and wounding 22 people.

More at The Times and:

Thai Court Disbands Ruling Party - New York Times
Thailand's Governing Party Dissolved; Premier Sanctioned - Los Angeles Times
Court Dissolves Thai Government for Election Fraud - Associated Press
Thai Airport Protests to End - Daily Telegraph
Political Crisis Harms Thailand's Economy - Washington Post

Court brings down Thai government

Thailand's courts did on Tuesday what anti-government protesters have been trying to do for months - bring down the government. The Constitution Court ordered that the ruling party and two of its allies be disbanded over electoral fraud, and that numerous politicians, including the premier, be banned from politics. The anti-government groups responded by saying they will unblock the international airport and others they have forced to close. But the political crisis is far from over. - Shawn W Crispin (Dec 2,'08)

THAILAND

Thai Government Collapses After Court Bans the Premier - Tim Johnston, Washington Post

Thailand's government collapsed Tuesday after the nation's Constitutional Court banned the prime minister from politics and dissolved three parties in his ruling coalition, delivering a partial victory to opponents, whose protests paralyzed the country's airports and raised fears of mass violence in Bangkok.

The ruling against Somchai Wongsawat on charges of vote-buying and other election irregularities prompted anti-government activists to lift their siege of the Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. The protesters had occupied the airports in their drive to remove Somchai's administration from office.

More at The Washington Post and:

Thai Protesters Leave Bangkok Airport, Ending Takeover - Voice of America
Thai Court Dissolves Ruling Party - Wall Street Journal
Protesters Leave Bangkok Airport - The Australian
Thailand's Airports Re-open - The Times
Thai pPotesters Abandon Bangkok Airports - Daily Telegraph
Thailand's PAD Protesters Leave Airports - Los Angeles Times
Bangkok Airport Resumes Operations - New York Times