Thai govt survives no-confidence vote

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BANGKOK, Mar 21 (AP): Thailand's three-month-old government survived a no-confidence vote Saturday, but analysts said it is likely to face continuing street demonstrations by loyalists of exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and five of his cabinet ministers won by comfortable margins, with Abhisit tallying 246-176 ballots with 12 abstentions in the House of Representatives.
The opposition Phuea Thai Party, which supports Thaksin, initiated the no-confidence motion but failed to deliver any knockout punches as it criticised the government for poor handling of the economy and accused it of supporting the protesters who occupied Bangkok's airports last year.
"The prime minister thinks that the government has gained more stability, and it will help him work with more ease," government spokesman said after the vote.