Thai 'yellow shirts' form party

PAD supporters occupied Bangkok's main airport last year

Leaders of the protest group that helped topple Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have applied to form a political party.

It is to be known as the New Politics Party, and has sprung from the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy

The PAD was behind street protests that led to the military coup that toppled Mr Thaksin in 2006. It also helped force his allies from power last year.

Thai politics have been destabilised by mass protests between rival groups.

The acting secretary general of the New Politics Party (NPP), Suriyasai Katasila, said the registration papers were submitted to the Election Commission at 0909 Thursday - nine being considered an auspicious number in Thailand.

The party is being led by Somsak Kosaisuk until the registration process is complete.

NPP leaders say they are adopting yellow and green as their colours.

Red-shirted supporters of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protest movement have promised further demonstrations against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for later in June.

A two-week state of emergency was declared around Bangkok in April after clashes between UDD protesters and police left two people dead and more than 100 injured.