Thai airports open as people wait
 Thai Airlines plans to fly 24 flights in and out of Bangkok on Thursday |
Bangkok's two airports have begin to operate flights although officials say a full schedule will not resume for another day.
Suvarnabhumi airport was taking in a limited number of international flights and flights are leaving for Australia and Europe.
The government is looking for a new prime minister after Somchai Wongsawat was banned from politics on Tuesday.
Later on Thursday, the King of Thailand will give his annual speech.
People from both sides of Thailand's bitter political divide are licking their wounds after the gruelling protests of the past six months.
A halt was called to the blockade of the country's two main airports on Wednesday after a Tuesday court ruling that deposed the prime minister and banned the three ruling parties due to charges of electoral fraud.
Flights delayed
 The protesters agreed to leave the airports after the prime minister fell |
More than 300,000 travellers have been stranded in Thailand by the political unrest.
Thai Airways, said it would operate 24 international flights - 12 outbound and 12 inbound - to and from Europe, Asia and Australia at Suvarnabhumi before midnight on Thursday.
The airline and the Airports Authority of Thailand said they were preparing to sue the protesters for damages resulting from the occupation of the airports.
Led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, protesters had camped out at the airport for eight days, using the airport's electricity and water, and virtually closing down the country's aviation links.
Political chasm
Despite their dispersal, the political landscape remains riven by powerful personalities and disputes.
The government has 30 days in which to find a new prime ministerial candidate, but the protesters say they will return to the streets if they dislike the choice.
 | ESCALATING CONFLICT September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in military coup February 2008: Samak Sundaravej sworn in as prime minister August 2008: PAD protesters occupy government buildings, demanding the government step down September 2008: Mr Samak dismissed for violating conflict of interest law. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, becomes prime minister October 2008: Thaksin given a two-year jail sentence for corruption in his absence 26 November 2008: Anti-government protesters take control of Bangkok's main airport 2 December 2008: Thai court rules that PM Somchai should be banned from politics, and his party should be dissolved 3 December 2008: Protesters vacate Bangkok airports  |
The PAD accuses the government of being a proxy for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who they accuse of corruption and republicanism.
But the opponents of Mr Thaksin have been unable to win any election to replace him or his allies, who retain strong support from the rural poor majority.
Deputy Prime Minister Chaowarat Chandeerakul has been endorsed as caretaker leader.
"It is nothing more than an intermission. It is not over until the two sides of the political spectrum can reconcile and the prospect of that happening is very bleak," Charnvit Kasetsiri, a historian and former rector of Bangkok's Thammasat University, told the Associated Press.
The tourism and export-dependent economy is also expected to take time to recover.
The central bank cut interest rates by a shock 100 basis points to 2.75 percent on Wednesday, reflecting the economic costs of the political crisis.
Royal hope
Everyone is awaiting the annual birthday speech later on Thursday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Due to turn 81 and thought to be in poor health, the King has long been looked to for guidance in times of turmoil; this year analysts say the stakes have rarely been higher.
Months of protests have left at least six people dead, and the divisions in Thai society starker than ever.
The King is due to make his remarks on radio after 0900 GMT.
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