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Thailand avoids chaos but solution to take time

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-03 14:32

HONG KONG -Thailand's court ruling to dismiss Premier Somchai Wongsawat had prevented a slide into chaos but there is no quick solution to the political turmoil, the head of ASEAN said on Wednesday.

"At least it has put a stop to the slide into chaos, even more choas," Surin Pitsuwan, head of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), told Reuters in an interview. He was referring to a court ruling on Tuesday to dismiss the government of Somchai, whom anti-government protesters accuse of being a puppet of his brother-in-law Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

"Right now the situation is quite fragile, but definitely the situation is in the process of a more stable, more acceptable and more legitimate government. It wil take some time to find a balance."

ASEAN on Tuesday postponed its summit scheduled for December 13-17 in Thailand until March because of the conflict in Thailand but Surin said the meeting could take place before March, not necessarily in Thailand.