Special report: Army coup in Thailand>>>

Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has sent his hand-written letter from London to state his wish to resign as Thai Rak Thai Party leader, Thai TV channel 7 reported Tuesday (Oct 3rd).

His three-page letter was disclosed at a press conference at the party's head office Tuesday morning, the report said.

The resignation prompted deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan to become acting party leader.

Thaksin said in the letter that he wanted to take responsibility for the trouble caused to the party by resigning as party leader.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusipitak on Tuesday also resigned from Thai Rak Thai Party, local news network The Nation said.

Somkid was the latest senior party member who submitted the resignation. As of Tuesday, it is said that over 100 Thai Rak Thai Party members, mostly senior ones, left the party.

The party suffered the exodus after the Council of National Security issued an order, banning executive members of any party for five years if the party is dissolved for breaking electoral laws.

Thai Rak Thai and Democrat Party are facing court trials on electoral irregularities. If they are found guilty, both the parties would be dissolved.

Editor: Donald