Thai court agrees new Thaksin trial
Corruption charges in a third case against former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been accepted by a court.
He and dozens of government workers and ministers are accused of being involved in a state lottery fraud that lost around £500 million.
The complaint, brought by the Attorney General's office, calls for the Supreme Court to order the 47 people involved to repay the money.
The lottery case is one of nearly two dozen allegations of corruption and abuse of power against Thaksin, who returned from exile in March, and his associates.
Two other cases have already made their way to the courts. One involves the alleged illegal purchase of land from a state agency by Thaksin's wife, and the other allegations that Thaksin changed laws to favour his business interests.
The latest case is another blow to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his governing coalition, which includes a number of Thaksin loyalists.
Two Cabinet ministers have been forced out in the past month and anti-government groups have conducted weeks of protests accusing Samak of being a proxy for Thaksin.