Love of cooking ousts Thai PM, for now

By Darren Schuettler

BANGKOK (Reuters) - After seven months of turbulent rule, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's passion for hot, spicy food has forced him out of power -- if only briefly.

The combative 73-year-old politician has survived months of street protests, graft probes, a hostile media, disobedient generals and sniping from the country's revered king.

But he ran foul of the constitution by hosting TV cooking shows while in office, a top court ruled on Tuesday, ordering him to resign because he had worked for a private broadcaster.

The offending show, "Tasting, Grumbling", was a staple for lovers of Thai food, even though its host was not to everyone's taste.

With an apron wrapped around his ample girth, Samak whipped up a weekly menu of traditional curries, soups and salads, as well as his own recipes such as "Samak's Fried Rice".

There was no immediate reaction to the verdict from Samak, who earlier only smiled at reporters as he toured a meat and vegetable market in northeast Thailand hours before the Constitutional Court ruling.

His People Power Party (PPP) vowed to return him as prime minister in a parliamentary vote on Friday, outraging protesters who have occupied Samak's official Bangkok compound for two weeks in a bid to unseat him.

"If Samak is elected again, they can go to hell," Sikarin Inksakunsombun, a 64-year-old housewife, said at a rain-soaked Government House.