Thai ruling party picks Thaksin in-law for PM

BANGKOK: Thailand's ruling People Power Party (PPP) nominated a brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra as its pick for prime minister on Monday, antagonizing protesters who accuse the government of being a puppet of the ousted leader.

Somchai Wongsawat, 61, has been acting prime minister since last week, when the Constitutional Court fired Samak Sundaravej -- also seen as a Thaksin proxy -- for hosting cooking shows on commercial television while in office.

Parliament is due to vote on his nomination on Wednesday.