Former Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has died in a Bangkok hospital after a year-long bout with cancer, his former secretary reported 24 November. While in government, he was accused of corruption for having accepted payment for a tv show on which he cooked and commented on national affairs.  He had presented the show many times in the past, but not while he was prime minister.

Samak became prime minister in 2007 after street protests that led to the ousting of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in 2006. His government was widely accused of being a stand-in for the ousted Thaksin, and street protests resumed. He was forced out of office after a court ruling found him guilty of conflict of interest.

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