BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand's Constitutional Court has dissolved two main parties in the ruling coalition and banned the prime minister along with top party executives from politics for five years.
The ruling sinks Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's government, which has faced strident protests for months seeking its ouster.
The court ruled that Somchai's People's Power Party and the Machima Thipatai party were guilty of electoral fraud. Somchai and dozens of party executive members also were found guilty and banned from politics for five years.
Today's ruling raises hopes that thousands of anti-government protesters will end their siege of the country's two main airports.
Court President Chat Chalavorn says the ruling will "set a political standard."
Earlier, hundreds of pro-government demonstrators swarmed around a court building Tuesday, forcing the relocation of judges who will rule on the fate of a Thai government beset by protests and a virtual shutdown of international air links.
Judges of the Constitutional Court had to scurry to a suburban courtroom.
Hours earlier, an explosive device was hurled into a crowd of anti-government protesters at Bangkok's domestic airport, killing one person and wounding 22, said Surachet Sathitniramai of the Narenthorn Medical Center.
So far, seven people have been killed and scores injured in bomb attacks, clashes with police and street battles between government opponents and supporters.
The decision could dampen protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy , which has been seeking Somchai's ouster through daily protests and the seizure of Bangkok's domestic and international airports.
But it could also inflame pro-government supporters who have been gathering their strength in recent days and widen an already dangerous rift in Thai society, further paralyzing government machinery and draining the economy of millions of dollars.