World

Bangkok airport resumes operation

07:07 am on 6 December 2008

Thailand's main international airport is fully operational after an eight-day occupation by anti-government protesters.

The BBC reports most airlines are now operating a normal service, but thousands of passengers still face long delays as the backlog is cleared.

The protest ended when a court banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics and dissolved his party.

Protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy camped at the airports for more than a week to force the prime minister to resign, stranding thousands of travellers as all air traffic was stopped.

They finally agreed to leave after the Constitutional Court issued its ruling.

Flights have been leaving the main Suvarnabhumi airport since Wednesday, but Friday was the first day of normal service.

However, Thailand's political crisis is far from over. No date is set for the nomination of a new prime minister.