PAD members in Nakhon Si Thammarat set off more than 10,000 firecrackers to celebrate the verdict as well as the four-year jail terms handed to the commissioners, said Somkid Potjamnian, the PAD's leader in the southern province.

"It's good news for our country," he said.

 "I believe people across the country are happy and confident in the power of the judicial system," Somkid said.

He added that caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should step down now that the commissioners have been convicted and given jail sentences.

The court convicted EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp and commissioners Prinya Nakchudtree and Virachai Naewboonnien over their handling of the April 2 election as well as a second round of voting on April 23.

Lertchai Sirichai, a lecturer at Walailak University and a PAD coordinator in the South, said the group was satisfied with the ruling, but wanted Thaksin to step down and exit politics.

He said the ruling was a signal the political conflict must be resolved.

Suntree Hutthee Sengking, a PAD leader in Khon Kaen, described the ruling as a victory for the people. The commissioners and the Thai Rak Thai Party had stubbornly clung to power, she said.

"We called on them to resign because we didn't believe the election would be fair. Democracy needs a new election commission," Suntree said.