Thaksin relative wins backing as PM nominee

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Thailand's ruling party has endorsed the brother-in-law of deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra as its nominee to become the next prime minister. The spokesman for the People's Power Party, Kuthep Saikrajang, says the party picked acting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Monday ahead of a parliamentary vote scheduled for Wednesday.

Somchai was a deputy prime minister and education minister in the Cabinet of Samak Sundaravej, who was forced to resign last week for violating a conflict-of-interest law. He is also married to Thaksin's sister, a political liability in the eyes of anti-government protesters who accuse Thaksin and Samak of corruption.

Anti-government protesters say they will not accept any candidates allied to Thaksin or Samak.