Doubt cast on October elections in Thailand

29/08/2006 19:41:14

National elections due to occur in Thailand on October 15 may not go ahead following a delay in the selection of five new Thail election commissioners.

A Thai senator says the senate committee reviewing the candidates will not be able to finish its work by the time parliament closes Wednesday.

Three commission members quit last month after they were convicted of illegally aiding Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ruling party in the last election on April 2.

A fourth resigned and the fifth has died.

The prime minister's party won the April election, which he called three years early to halt months of street protests demanding he step down over allegations of corruption.

But the constitutional court invalidated the results, clearing the way for new polls.

Produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation