Exiled Thai leader is father of the bride ahead of election

Thailand's exiled former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, won't know until Sunday whether people in his homeland are still fans of his politics, but he was happy as he hosted a wedding reception in Hong Kong for his youngest daughter.

Though ostensibly a family affair with a raft of VIP guests, the ceremony's timing Friday seemed to carry an implicit message to Thaksin's countrymen: Don't forget me and my political allies at Sunday's general election.

Thai Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, who made an abortive attempt last month to be a prime ministerial candidate for a political party allied to Thaksin, was a special guest. Although Thaksin was ousted by a 2006 military coup, the Pheu Thai Party of his loyalists is expected to capture the most seats in Sunday's polls.

(ABC)