Thai PM sobs as he quits

2006-04-04 16:51

Bangkok - Embattled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra hugged his two daughters and sobbed on Tuesday after announcing he would step down in the wake of controversial weekend elections.

Thaksin announced he would not accept the post of prime minister when parliament reconvened.

Immediately after the 10-minute nationally televised speech, Thaksin - who is battling allegations of corruption and abuse of power - hugged his daughters and wept on their shoulders while his wife put her arms around him.

Thaksin made the announcement just hours after meeting the nation's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, amid threats of new mass protests in Bangkok demanding that he quit.

Thaksin said he made his decision out of respect for the monarch.

He had called Sunday's elections three years early after two months of street protests against his rule.

But, the main opposition parties boycotted the polls, undermining their credibility.

Simmering public anger against Thaksin erupted in late January after his family sold its holding in telecoms giant Shin Corp for $1.9bn in a tax-free deal.

- AFP