No concrete solutions from top justices

BANGKOK, April 28 (TNA) - Thailand’s top judges on Friday could not reach a conclusion on whether the inconclusive April 2 general election should be nullified.

The judges held an unprecedented judicial summit in the wake of His Majesty the King's instruction on April 25 to find solutions to the current political stalemate.

Speaking to a media conference after a two-hour meeting behind closed door, Supreme Court secretary-general Jaran Pakdithanakul said the chief judges of the three main courts—the Constitutional, Supreme and Supreme Admnistrative--would speed up their deliberations on pending cases under each court’s jurisdiction within the legal timeframe and in accordance with the Constitution law.

Among dozen cases contesting the legitimacy of the disputed general election filed before the three courts, the Democrat Party petitioned the Administrative Court to nullify the April 2 general election and to take legal action against caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra following his allegedly unconstitutional dissolution of the House of Representatives.

The top judges had been widely expected to annul the inconclusive April 2 general election.

The ruling Thai Rak Thai party under caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin won 56 percent of the vote in the snap elections.

But the opposition boycotted the polls leaving 40 of parliament's 500 seats empty, and the second round of voting last weekend failed to fill them.

A third round is scheduled for tomorrow in several southern provinces.

The law states that Parliament cannot convene until all the seats are filled.

(TNA) April 28 2006