Communist party of Laos names PM Thongloun as new leader -state media

BANGKOK, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Communist Party of Laos on Friday elected Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith as new secretary general, replacing retiring party chief Bounnhang Vorachit, state media reported.

Thongloun was elected to a five-year term as head of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee – the top post in the party, the state-run Vientiane Times reported. (Writing by Kay Johnson Editing by Ed Davies)