Thai PM survives no-confidence vote after turmoil

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BANGKOK, June 2 (AP): Thailand's beleaguered prime minister survived a no-confidence vote Wednesday called after months of anti-government protests crippled the capital and street battles left nearly 90 people dead.
Opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Vejjajiva of brutally supressing the protests. Abhisit, defending himself during debate in Parliament Tuesday, promised there would be an independent investigation into whether the army used undue force to clear demonstrators from Bangkok's streets.
Street clashes, grenade attacks and sniper fire over a 10-week period killed 89 people and wounded some 1,800. The months of political turmoil cost the country billions of dollars.
The thousands of Red Shirt protesters had been calling for Abhisit to dissolve Parliament immediately and call new elections, saying his government came to power illegitimately and represented a Bangkok elite indifferent to the plight of the rural and urban poor.
The prime minister has yet to set a date for elections, saying stability has to be restored before balloting can be held.
During two days of acrimonious debate, the opposition Puea Thai Party charged the army's use of live ammunition and armored personnel carriers to break up the protests was excessive and resulted in civilian casualties.
As the military moved in to clear the protest area on May 19, rioters set fires at the country's biggest shopping mall, the stock exchange and more than two dozen other places.