Talisay asked to make guidelines for sand extractors

BANGKOK (AP) - A court ruled Wednesday that the country's oldest political party was not guilty of maligning ousted Premier Thaksin Shinawatra and urging voters to cast a "no" vote in last year's election.

The ruling was the first of six charges the Constitutional Tribunal is considering against the Democrat Party. It then will consider similar election law violations against Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party.

A guilty finding could result in either the parties or their executives being banned from politics.

The party is "not guilty of maligning Thaksin's party Thak Rak Thai and persuading people to vote no," a judge read out to the crowded courtroom. "It did not mislead voters about Thaksin's popularity as the election commission alleged."