Bangkok  - Somchai Wongsawat, the brother-in-law of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on Tuesday secured the full backing of the People Power Party to become the country's next premier after a party rift failed to scuttle his nomination.

"The People Power Party has reached a consensus to nominate Somchai as the next prime minister," said PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang.

The PPP was scheduled to meet with its five coalition partners Tuesday night to get their backing for Somchai's nomination, which is scheduled for a confirmation vote in Parliament on Wednesday.

Bangkok  - Thai shares lost 2.8 per cent of their value Tuesday as the Bangkok bourse felt the full impact of Wall Street's declines.

Phnom Penh - The United States advocated a bilateral solution to the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said Tuesday.

Wrapping up a three-day official visit during which he met Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Prime Minister Hun Sen, Negroponte said the US hoped to see a peaceful end to the dispute between the two neighbours.

Bangkok - Thailand's Supreme Court for political office holders on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra for failing to appear in court to face abuse-of-power charges.

The court case, involving a 4-billion-baht (116-million-dollar) soft loan to the Myanmar government in 2004 by Thailand's state-owned EXIM Bank when Thaksin was still prime minister, has been suspended.

Thaksin has been living in self-exile in London since August 10.

Phnom Penh - Last week, Cambodia said it was content to be patient with Thailand over disputed border areas, but claims Thai troops had moved into a third border temple area over the weekend have freshly irked Cambodia, the government said Monday.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said by telephone that claims Thai troops had moved into an area close to Ta Krabey temple, close to the Ta Moan temple complex which is also in dispute, had angered the government and Cambodia was preparing to appeal to a "third international party" to intervene.

Bangkok - Thailan