The Constitutional Court in Thailand has voted to annul last month's general election, according to one of the judges on the panel, after considering complaints about a number of irregularities. This report from Jonathan Head:

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The irregularities the judges considered to justify the decision were relatively minor. The intervention by Thailand's revered monarch two weeks ago is more likely to have influenced their verdict. The King described the situation as a mess and, more significantly, described any parliament with no opposition presence as undemocratic.

The path ahead now though is still not clear. The opposition parties do not want Mr Thaksin to run again for prime minister but he is considered a key vote winner for his party, Thai Rak Thai, which retains the support of most rural voters.

The opposition parties are also demanding constitutional reforms to strengthen the checks on the prime minister's power, although they haven't specified what changes they expect or how quickly or easily these could be agreed.

Jonathan Head, BBC News, Bangkok

Listen to the words

paralysis
a state of complete powerlessness, not being able to do anything

stalemate
deadlock (neither side able to move forward)

siding with
supporting

to annul
to declare invalid or void

irregularities
actions or situations which are against a rule

intervention
interference, mediation

revered
deeply respected

a mess
a state of confusion or trouble

path ahead
way forward

retains the support of
is still backed up by, or popular with

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