Thailand's parliament is convening to choose a new prime minister after days of political chaos, in a vote that could be overshadowed by the dramatic departure from the country of its most powerful politician, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Polarising billionaire Thaksin, the central figure in a tumultuous two-decade battle for power in Thailand, left on his private jet for Dubai late on Thursday, with his family's ruling party Pheu Thai in disarray.

Thaksin's flight out of Thailand came just days before a court ruling scheduled for next week that could see him jailed.

The departure of Thaksin, the driving force behind Pheu Thai, came six days after a court sacked his daughter and protege, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as prime minister for an ethics violation, triggering a scramble for power and a bold

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