Thai PM survives no-confidence vote

Thailand’s prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has comfortably survived a no-confidence vote in parliament ahead of elections planned for later this year.

Politicians voted 249 to 184 to keep Vejjajiva in power until the elections.

Today’s vote came after a censure debate in which the opposition Puea Thai Party accused the government of unjustified killing during last year’s anti-government Red Shirt protests, which resulted in about 90 deaths.

The opposition also blamed the government for widespread mismanagement and corruption.

The Puea Thai Party is closely associated with the Red Shirt protest movement.