14 May 2014
Last updated at 22:39 ET
Why did the court oust Ms Yingluck?
What is behind Thailand's political turmoil?
Anti-government protesters say the government has been buying votes with irresponsible spending pledges
Thailand's
Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra,
the latest move in the long-running political crisis. The BBC looks at
the factors behind the deadlock, and what government supporters and
opponents want.
The Constitutional Court ruled that Ms Yingluck acted
illegally when she transferred her national security chief Thawil
Pliensri to another position in 2011.
The security chief was appointed by the previous government and had been openly critical of Ms Yingluck's government. He was later reinstated.
The binding decision also ordered nine cabinet ministers involved in the transfer to step down.
Supporters of Ms Yingluck and the ruling Pheu Thai Party believe the courts side with the urban elite who oppose her and are therefore biased.
Profile: Yingluck Shinawatra
What could happen next?
There are fears this could lead to clashes between Ms Yingluck's supporters, the "red-shirts", and anti-government protesters.
Thai politics are deeply polarised. The Pheu Thai Party has a strong support base with rural voters and won elections in 2011. The "red-shirts" had said they would view any court move to bar Ms Yingluck from office as a judicial coup.
However, anti-government demonstrators, who tend to be urban and middle-class voters, have protested against Ms Yingluck's administration for months, occupying official buildings and disrupting elections in February.
At least 27 people have died over the course of the protests.
Where is Thailand heading after protests?
Who is in charge now?
For now, the remaining cabinet ministers in Ms Yingluck's
government can continue working in a caretaker administration. Commerce
Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan has replaced Ms Yingluck as prime
minister.
Polls are scheduled for 20 July after the previous snap election in February, which the government was expected to win, was declared unconstitutional because the protesters disrupted it.
Thailand's opposition says it will boycott the next election too. It says the vote should be delayed and an interim government appointed to oversee political reform.
Thailand's anti-graft body, meanwhile, has charged Ms Yingluck over a controversial rice subsidy scheme - a move that could lead to a five-year ban from politics.
No grand bargain amid Thai crisis
Thai PM probed over 'corrupt rice subsidy scheme'
How did the latest crisis begin?
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bangkok to voice their opposition to the bill.
Mr Thaksin, one of the most polarising characters in Thai politics, now lives in self-imposed exile overseas after being convicted of corruption, but remains popular with many rural voters.
The amnesty bill was proposed by the government of Ms Yingluck, who is Mr Thaksin's sister. The bill was eventually rejected by the Senate, but anti-government protests continued and new demands emerged.
Analysis: Protesters' challenge
Who are the two sides?
Anti-government demonstrations are being led by Suthep
Thaugsuban, a former Thai deputy prime minister who resigned from the
opposition Democrat Party to lead the rallies.
The protesters are united by their opposition to Mr Thaksin, and their belief that he is still controlling the current Pheu Thai government.
The protesters say the government has been buying votes with irresponsible spending pledges aimed at its support base - thereby creating a flawed democracy.
The government's "red-shirt" supporters have held a number of rallies, but have for the most part remained off the streets.
They have been largely supportive of the government's policies, and have warned that they will turn out in large numbers if the government they elected is forced from office.
Observers fear that if they were to decide to protest an escalation in violence would follow.
Profile: Suthep Thaugsuban and Thailand's protesters
Thai 'red shirts' warn of civil war
How have the protests unfolded?
In November, around 100,000 anti-government demonstrators took
to the streets - although numbers have since substantially decreased.
The rallies began peacefully but turned deadly when violence broke out near a pro-government "red-shirt" rally on 30 November, killing one.
Police initially avoided confronting the protesters, in an attempt to avoid violence. But they moved in to clear some of the sites occupied by protesters in February, sparking deadly clashes.
Some were also killed in attacks on anti-government protests. Both pro- and anti-government groups accused each other of carrying out the attacks.
Deadly attacks hit rallies in Thailand
What's the history behind the crisis?
Thailand has faced a power struggle since Mr Thaksin was ousted
by the military as prime minister in a 2006 military coup, accused of
corruption and abuse of power.
Mr Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 after being given a jail term. A government of his allies was elected in the first post-coup polls but later removed by the courts.
In 2010, Mr Thaksin's supporters occupied parts of Bangkok. More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died over the course of the two-month action and crackdown that followed.
Thailand enjoyed a brief period of relative stability after Ms Yingluck came to power in 2011.
However, her government's attempt to pass the political amnesty bill reignited tensions and led to the latest anti-government protests.
The security chief was appointed by the previous government and had been openly critical of Ms Yingluck's government. He was later reinstated.
The binding decision also ordered nine cabinet ministers involved in the transfer to step down.
Supporters of Ms Yingluck and the ruling Pheu Thai Party believe the courts side with the urban elite who oppose her and are therefore biased.
Profile: Yingluck Shinawatra
Ms Yingluck's supporters see the case as an attempt by the elite to force her from office
Thai politics are deeply polarised. The Pheu Thai Party has a strong support base with rural voters and won elections in 2011. The "red-shirts" had said they would view any court move to bar Ms Yingluck from office as a judicial coup.
However, anti-government demonstrators, who tend to be urban and middle-class voters, have protested against Ms Yingluck's administration for months, occupying official buildings and disrupting elections in February.
At least 27 people have died over the course of the protests.
Where is Thailand heading after protests?
Ms Yingluck (pictured) and nine cabinet ministers have been ordered to step down
Polls are scheduled for 20 July after the previous snap election in February, which the government was expected to win, was declared unconstitutional because the protesters disrupted it.
Thailand's opposition says it will boycott the next election too. It says the vote should be delayed and an interim government appointed to oversee political reform.
Thailand's anti-graft body, meanwhile, has charged Ms Yingluck over a controversial rice subsidy scheme - a move that could lead to a five-year ban from politics.
No grand bargain amid Thai crisis
Thai PM probed over 'corrupt rice subsidy scheme'
The government shelved a controversial amnesty bill, but protests against the administration continued
The latest round of political turmoil began in November after
Thailand's lower house passed a controversial amnesty bill which critics
said could allow former leader Thaksin Shinawatra to return without
serving time in jail.Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bangkok to voice their opposition to the bill.
Mr Thaksin, one of the most polarising characters in Thai politics, now lives in self-imposed exile overseas after being convicted of corruption, but remains popular with many rural voters.
The amnesty bill was proposed by the government of Ms Yingluck, who is Mr Thaksin's sister. The bill was eventually rejected by the Senate, but anti-government protests continued and new demands emerged.
Analysis: Protesters' challenge
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban wants the government to step down
The protesters are united by their opposition to Mr Thaksin, and their belief that he is still controlling the current Pheu Thai government.
The protesters say the government has been buying votes with irresponsible spending pledges aimed at its support base - thereby creating a flawed democracy.
Government supporters have warned that any attempt to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra could trigger a civil war
They have been largely supportive of the government's policies, and have warned that they will turn out in large numbers if the government they elected is forced from office.
Observers fear that if they were to decide to protest an escalation in violence would follow.
Profile: Suthep Thaugsuban and Thailand's protesters
Thai 'red shirts' warn of civil war
Anti-government protesters set up barricades and took over official buildings in Bangkok
The rallies began peacefully but turned deadly when violence broke out near a pro-government "red-shirt" rally on 30 November, killing one.
Police initially avoided confronting the protesters, in an attempt to avoid violence. But they moved in to clear some of the sites occupied by protesters in February, sparking deadly clashes.
Some were also killed in attacks on anti-government protests. Both pro- and anti-government groups accused each other of carrying out the attacks.
Deadly attacks hit rallies in Thailand
Mr Thaksin's supporters shut down parts of Bangkok in 2010
Mr Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 after being given a jail term. A government of his allies was elected in the first post-coup polls but later removed by the courts.
In 2010, Mr Thaksin's supporters occupied parts of Bangkok. More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died over the course of the two-month action and crackdown that followed.
Thailand enjoyed a brief period of relative stability after Ms Yingluck came to power in 2011.
However, her government's attempt to pass the political amnesty bill reignited tensions and led to the latest anti-government protests.
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