Thailand's Constitutional Court has ordered Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's ruling People's Power Party to disband after it was found guilty of vote fraud.
The ruling Tuesday also bars the party's top leaders, including Mr. Somchai, from participating in politics for five years.
Anti-government protesters have been trying to topple Mr. Somchai's government for months.
Huge Protests at Airports
Thousands of protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy had occupied the grounds around the prime ministers offices since August. They seized control of the Don Mueang domestic airport and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport last week. On Monday, the protesters abandoned the grounds around Government House to reinforce the demonstrators at the airports.
Hundreds of Thai government supporters wearing red shirts were at the court house to hear the verdict.
An initial rally at the Constitutional Court prompted officials to move the hearing to the Administrative Court and delay the proceedings by half an hour. Protesters then followed to the new location.
Thousands of pro-Somchai demonstrators rallied in Bangkok on Sunday to denounce intensifying anti-government demonstrations that have shut down Bangkok's two main airports.
A bomb blast outside Bangkok's Don Mueang airport killed one person and wounded at least 20 others in the latest attack on anti-government protesters. The attack followed two grenade attacks Sunday that wounded 51 protesters.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
