Thailand's ruling People Power Party has suffered a string of setbacks in court this week.
OnTuesday, Thailand's Supreme Court found former parliamentary speakerYongyuth Tiyapairat guilty of vote fraud in last year's legislativeelections.
The court has barred him from politics for fiveyears. Yongyuth stepped down from his post earlier this year to contestthe vote buying charges.
Wednesday, Thailand's ConstitutionalCourt, which oversees the appointment of officials and governmentpolicies, ordered the removal the country's health minister, ChiyaSasomsub. He is accused of violating regulations that require officialsto reveal their assets.
The rulings come as opposition lawmakers are preparing to launch an impeachment motion against the foreign minister.
ThePeople Power Party is closely linked to former Prime Minister ThaksinShinawatra, who was ousted from office nearly two years ago in abloodless military coup.
The party has been heading Thailand'scoalition government since winning parliamentary elections last year.Criticism of the party's links to Mr. Thaksin have triggered massivedemonstrations in recent weeks.
Late last month, the opposition tried to pass a vote of no-confidence against Thailand's prime minister. The motion failed.