Thaksin Shinawatra won a landslide election in January 2001 to become Thailand's 23rd prime minister.

But it was not long before he was at the centre of controversy - a theme that has since dogged his leadership.

Just seven months into his term, in August 2001, Mr Thaksin narrowly escaped conviction on charges that he wrongly concealed assets, which could have banned him from politics for five years.

He came to office as a self-made billionaire and one of the wealthiest men in Thailand. His supporters admire his rags-to-riches story, his get-tough governance, and his economic stewardship, while his opponents label his style as autocratic.

He has been applauded for helping Thailand eradicate debt after the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The stock market rebounded, real estate surged - and this year, economic growth is up five per cent.

But his approach to other problems has not gained near the same level of admiration.

The heavy-handed tactics used in a crackdown on drugs raised alarms, after more than 2,200 suspected drug offenders died in apparent extrajudicial killings in his 2003 campaign.

Two highly controversial clashes with southern Islamic separatists, that resulted in hundreds more deaths, further fuelled concern over his authoritarian leanings.

Street protests

This year has been one of Thaksin Shinawatra's toughest.

In early 2006, Mr Thaksin's relatives sold their controlling stake in Shin Corp, the telecoms empire he founded, to Singapore state investment firm, Temasek. The tax-free $US1.9 billion sale angered the community.

People took to the streets in the thousands, accusing Mr Thaksin of corruption and calling on him to step down.

Near daily protests began in early February. On March 25 some 100,000 people attended an anti-Thaksin rally in downtown Bangkok and four days later 50,000 clogged Bangkok's commercial district, bringing business and traffic to a halt.

In a bid to end the protests, Mr Thaksin called a snap election for April 2.

But his gamble to call early elections three years early to seek a new mandate backfired when the opposition boycotted the polls and millions abstained in protest.

A partial count later showed Mr Thaksin's party won a majority of ballots, but the strong protest vote led Mr Thaksin to announce he would step down after a new parliament was convened.

The constitutional court later ruled the election was unconstitutional and that a new poll should be held.

But the lingering political uncertainly remained.

After a break of several weeks, Mr Thaksin took back the reins of power, pending a new election, and later announced he would lead his ruling party's campaign in the next election, but might decline the premiership if he won.

Elections were initially set down for October 15, but then postponed until late November after several election commissioners were convicted of illegally aiding Mr Thaksin in the April polls.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin

Leader of the military coup in Thailand, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, is known to be close to the country's revered king, Bhumibol Adulyadej.

At times he has acted as an unofficial voice for the king in the political crisis that has gripped Thailand for most of the year.

Recently, General Sonthi has revealed to the public the king's dismay at the continued bickering between Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Mr Thaksin's political opponents.

"The country's problem, which originated some time ago and has prevailed until now, has saddened His Majesty, which has upset and worried me," the general is quoted by local press as saying.

"As a soldier of His Majesty, I would like to help him relieve his worry and the Army will adhere strictly to whatever advice he gives us," he said.

General Sonthi is the first Muslim to head the Buddhist kingdom's army and has publicly clashed with the prime minister over security policy.

His appointment last year as army commander-in-chief was widely seen as an attempt by the government to end a violent Islamic insurgency in the Muslim-majority south.

General Sonthi advocated talks with militants as a way out of the violence that has killed more than 1,400 people since January 2004, but the government publicly quashed any hope for negotiations.

General Sonthi is a decorated combat veteran who graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1969 and was commissioned to the Royal Army Infantry Corps, before going on to lead several top units, including the elite Special Warfare Command.

As Thailand's political situation has worsened this year, General Sonthi has repeatedly gone to the press to deny the coup rumours.

Thailand's troubled history

Thailand has a turbulent political history, with as many as 18 coups since the transition from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

Some significant dates:

• June 24, 1932: King Prajadhipok falls in a bloodless coup, and a constitutional monarchy and parliament are introduced. A succession of military dictators retains power for most of the period until 1973.


• June 9, 1946: King Rama VIII dies under mysterious circumstances, and his brother Bhumibol Adulyadej assumes the throne.


• January 1946: Pridi Phanomyong becomes first democratically elected prime minister.


• November 8, 1947: A coup returns Pibulsonggram (Phibun) to power, ushering in a new period of military rule that lasts until 1973.


• October 14, 1973: Some 400,000 student-led protesters topple the military rulers, leading to a brief flowering of democracy characterised by elections which fail to produce a stable party majority.


• October 6, 1976: A bloody crackdown on student protesters ends with the military returning to power.


• March 1980: Moderate military ruler Prem Tinsulanond survives several coup attempts and opens politics to some popular participation.


• July 1988: General Chatichai Choonhavan wins general elections.


• February 1991: General Sunthorn Kongsompong stages a coup and topples Chatichai's civilian government. He sets up a junta, the so-called National Peace Keeping Council.


• May 1992: Junta member General Suchinda Kraprayoon assumes the prime minister's post, drawing hundreds of thousands of protesters into the streets of Bangkok demanding a return to civilian rule. Dozens are killed as General Suchinda tries to suppress the demonstrations by force. The king intervenes and General Suchinda agrees to resign.


• September 23, 1992: Democrats party leader Chuan Leekpai is elected prime minister.


• July 2, 1997: Thailand devalues the baht, triggering the Asian economic crisis.


• October 11, 1997: The king signs the country's 16th "People's Constitution" into law, in a major development for political reform and democracy.


• November 6, 1997: Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh resigns under economic and political pressure, and Chuan Leekpai again takes office on November 9.


• March 4, 2000: The first senate elections are held under the new constitution. Widespread allegations of vote-buying mean it takes five rounds and four months to fill the 200 seats.


• January 6, 2001: Telecommunications magnate Thaksin Shinawatra wins elections in a landslide to become the 23rd prime minister.