Court dissolves Thai government for election fraud

AP – Thai soldiers arrive at Administrative court for security in Bangkok Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008. Hundreds …
BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand's Constitutional Court has dissolved two main parties in the ruling coalition and banned the prime minister along with top party executives from politics for five years.
The ruling sinks Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's government, which has faced strident protests for months seeking its ouster.
The court ruled that Somchai's People's Power Party and the Machima Thipatai party were guilty of electoral fraud. Somchai and dozens of party executive members also were found guilty and banned from politics for five years.
Tuesday's ruling raises hopes that thousands of anti-government protesters will end their siege of the country's two main airports.
Court President Chat Chalavorn says the ruling will "set a political standard."