Thailand's House of Representatives opened Tuesday a no-confidence censure debate, in which Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and seven other cabinet ministers were to face a 36-hour grilling by the sole opposition party – the Democrat Party.

The debate, chaired by House Speaker Chai Chidchob, kicked off at around 1:30 P.M. (0630GMT).

The targeted cabinet members included Prime Minister and Defence Minister Samak Sundaravej, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Transport Minister Santi Prompat, Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri, Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.

They are all from the People Power Party (PPP), the core party of the six-party coalition government which took office just four months ago.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2008)