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.