Executives of Thailand's core ruling party People Power Party (PPP) has decided to nominate its deputy leader, Caretaker Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat as its candidate for the premier post, which was vacated by earlier disqualified Samak Sundaravej, said a PPP spokesman on Monday.

The PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said around noon that afteran party executives' meeting in the morning, the PPP leadership has resoluted to nominate Somchai for the premiership. The executives' decision will be delivered to PPP members of parliament in a meeting Monday afternoon for endorsement. Once passed by the party MPs, it would be communicated to the other five coalition parties in the caretaker government, said Kuthep.

The six coalition parties, led by PPP, is expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday to officially announce the coalition's nomination, before it is presented to the Parliament for a voting scheduled on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2008)