Thai PM given more time in legal case

BANGKOK, Apr 23 (agencies): Thailand's Constitutional Court Wednesday gave crisis-mired Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra more time to submit her defence against allegations of abuse of power which could see her removed from office.

The premier, who is facing a cascade of legal challenges to her tenure as well as months of sometimes violent street protests, must give her defence by May 2, the court said in a statement.

The case pivots on the transfer of then-national security chief Thawil Pliensri after Yingluck was elected in 2011.

A group of senators filed a complaint to the court over Thawil's transfer, saying it was carried out for the benefit of Yingluck's party.

Under the Thai constitution-drawn up after a 2006 coup that ousted Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra as premier-such an offence could lead to her sacking.

The court agreed to Yingluck's request for a 15-day extension-which she made last Friday-and said it "will hear four more witnesses on May 6", including Yingluck and Thawil.

But the statement did not indicate when the court may deliver its ruling.

Thailand's judicial agencies have moved centre stage of the near-six month political drama which has seen months of protests, left the kingdom without a fully functioning government since December and seen a February election annulled.

Political violence has also left at least 25 people dead and hundreds more wounded, raising fears of a wider conflict to come.