Thai protesters to 'appoint new government': spokesman

BANGKOK - Thai protesters who have massed on Bangkok's streets for six months said Thursday they would appoint a new government, following the removal of Premier Yingluck Shinawatra by a court.

"Tomorrow (Friday) we will take steps towards appointing a new government," protest spokesman Akanat Promphan told AFP, adding the ruling party's new prime minister has no "legitimacy." It was not immediately clear what legal basis their vow draws on, but the Thai constitution has an article which may enable the appointment of a new executive body by the Senate.

Protest leaders have vowed a "final fight" on Friday, without giving details of their plans.

Their vow comes a day after the Constitutional Court removed Yingluck from office for abusing her power.

The ruling Puea Thai party swiftly appointed a deputy premier - Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan - as her replacement.

An anti-graft authority may rule on Thursday against Yingluck and a former minister over a costly rice subsidy scheme - that could lead to a five-year ban from politics.

Observers say the anti-government movement is also banking on legal rulings to chisel away at the new administration.

They have been camped on Bangkok's streets for six months in a bid to topple Yingluck and rid the country of the influence of her brother Thaksin - a billionaire former premier who lives overseas to avoid jail on a corruption conviction he says is politically motivated.