Article: Thailand Names Prime Minister Suspected of Drug Activities; U.S. Denied Wealthy Nominee Visa Under Law Covering Traffickers

A wealthy Thai businessman who was denied a U.S. visa last year because of suspected drug trafficking activities was named Thailand's prime minister today, pending royal approval.

Narong Wongwan, 67, heads the pro-military Samakkhi Tham party, which won a bare plurality of parliamentary seats - 79 out of 360 - in Sunday's general elections.

For the past three days, leaders of Samakkhi Tham and other pro-military parties have haggled to forge a viable coalition government. They emerged this afternoon to announce a five-party coalition that controls 195 parliamentary seats, or 54 percent, and is to be headed by Narong as prime minister.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej will have to ...

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