Thailand

A Thai court on Tuesday found ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra guilty of conflict of interest and sentenced him in absentee to two years in jail, court judgment was in connection with a cut-price land deal he helped his wife Pojaman obtain in 2003, but Thaksin, 59, was cleared of more serious charges of abuse of power.

A fresh arrest warrant was issued for Thaksin and prosecutors said they will seek his extradition from Britain. The Supreme Court has so far agreed to hear five cases, and there are also five arrest warrants out against Thaksin. Pojaman was on July 31 convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to three years in jail. She appealed, but analysts have said the court decision against her stunned Thaksin and helped spark the couple's flight into exile.

This verdict won't change anybody's opinion. Some Thai think he's a corrupt crook and other people think he's unfairly persecuted, the verdict will do little to heal the deep divide in Thailand between Thaksin's friends and foes.