Thai assembly goes for reform

Thai assembly goes for reform

BANGKOK (AFP): The former speaker of Thailand's house of
representatives was yesterday elected chairman of an assembly
charged with drawing up a new constitution for the country.

Uthai Pimchaichon, 58, a veteran politician, was elected in a
second round of voting to be chairman of the Constitution
Drafting Assembly, beating out former prime minister Anand
Panyarachun for the post.

In the first round of voting, five candidates stood for the
post, but none received the necessary votes for election.

The first sitting of the constitutional assembly came a day
after one of the frontrunners for the job, Ukrit Mongkolnavin,
dropped out of assembly.

The assembly will draft a new constitutional bill within 240
days, after which Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has
pledged to dissolve parliament and hold new elections.