Thai alleges Soros plot toppled govt

Thai alleges Soros plot toppled govt

BANGKOK (AP): An outspoken opposition leader has accused financier George Soros and the U.S. government of plotting the collapse last year of then-premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's government.

Samak Sundaravej, a deputy prime minister under Chavalit, made the allegations less than a week after a no-confidence motion he led against Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai's current government failed.

Samak confirmed his comments to The Associated Press and elaborated his theories of conspiracy. Soros is an American and the International Monetary Fund is based in and supported by the United States, Samak said.

The Chavalit government fell after less than a year in office over the economic crisis triggered by the effective devaluation of the baht July 2 following attacks by currency speculators, including Soros.