Ruling party backs Samak for PM

8220;The party voted today to have Samak as Prime Minister again. We sent our four representatives to inform him,8221; said PPP spokesperson Kudeb Saikrachang. 8220;If he doesn8217;t want it, we8217;ll find another choice.8221;

A member of a minor PPP faction said Samak had accepted, but would let parliamentarians decide in a open vote on Friday. There was no official word yet from the party or Samak.

Other parties in the PPP-led coalition Government have pushed for someone else who might be more able to reduce political tensions with the People8217;s Alliance for Democracy PAD, whose protesters have occupied Government House for more than two weeks.

Meanwhile, army commander Anupong Paochina urged Somchai to lift the state of emergency Samak imposed last week after a man was killed in street battles between pro- and anti-government groups.

Anupong, who pointedly refused Samak8217;s request for the army to use force to evict the PAD from Government House, argued that the emergency rule, which appears to be largely symbolic, was damaging the country8217;s image and economy.

The situation has become much calmer, although underlying political tensions remain.

The protracted crisis is affecting confidence in the economy and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said on Wednesday the government8217;s growth target would be missed as a result. It had forecast growth of between 5 and 6 per cent this year.

Thailand8217;s main stock index has fallen around 25 per cent since the street campaign began in late May.