Cooking show lands Samak in hot soup

BANGKOK: Thailand's Constitutional Court yesterday ordered Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign, accusing him of breaking the law by hosting cooking shows on TV while in office.

"The defendant has violated Article 267 of the constitution, and his position as prime minister has ended," Chat Chonlaworn, head of the nine-judge panel, said. The cabinet will remain in a caretaker position until a new administration is installed, he said.

Before the court began its session, Samak said he would honor the verdict. But he was not available for comment after the order was passed.