Thai government faces defeat

Dr Thaksin is poised to become Prime minister

Thailand's governing Democrat Party has acknowledged defeat in Saturday's general elections after exit polls showed the main opposition party heading for victory.

It is too early to count on the exit polls. The commission has a lot of cases of hopeful winners to review

Election commissioner Sawat Chotipanit

Three separate polls indicated that the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) Party, led by controversial tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra, would win more than 200 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives.

This compares with about 120 seats for Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai's Democrats.

However, the country's Election Commission said it had received a flood of complaints about alleged voting fraud that could lead to disqualification or revotes in many areas.

"It is too early to count on the exit polls. The commission has a lot of cases of hopeful winners to review," commissioner Sawat Chotipanit told reporters.

Dr Thaksin may himself face disqualification over allegations that he concealed some of his assets.

'Will of the people'

Mr Chuan said he accepted that he would almost certainly be unable to form a government.

Doubts remain about the validity of many votes

His deputy leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said: "We are ready to be the opposition party.

"The polls showed that people have voted for us to be the opposition and we abide by the people's wish."

Saturday's elections were the first to be held under a new anti-corruption constitution.

A total of 37 political parties contested the election. Early reports put the turn-out at about 60%. Final unofficial election results are not expected until Sunday.

Even before polling stations closed at 3pm local time (0800 GMT), election commission officials and monitors were reporting widespread vote-buying - despite a massive security operation.

It's now the time for working for the country, not for the party any more

Thaksin Shinawatra

More than 140,000 police were deployed throughout the country, many guarding polling booths and politicians after a series of election-related shootings.

Under the strict new rules, the Election Commission has powers to disqualify those responsible for cheating at the polls and to call re-votes.

Somchai Srisuthiyakorn of the Pollwatch Foundation said vote buying had increased in the last days of the campaign.

"From the whole country we've heard reports of vote-buying, but we can't do anything because we don't have enough volunteers or police," he said.

Officials quoted in the local press said there was so much evidence of vote-buying that dozens of candidates could be banned after the elections or face re-runs.

Ready to rule

Thaksin Sinawatra, who founded Thailand's biggest telecommunications conglomerate, ran an impressive campaign, accusing the prime minister of failing to lift Thailand out of the 1997 economic crisis, selling the country to foreign investors and neglecting the poor.

Soldiers line up to vote, polling cards at the ready

As he went to vote, he said he was ready to become Thailand's new leader.

"Now, I have to plan to work for the country. I've been working hard for the party already. It's now the time for working for the country, not for the party any more," he said.

But Doctor Thaksin may yet be barred from becoming prime minister because of a finding by an official anti-corruption commission that he concealed some of his assets.

The National Counter Corruption Commission ruled last month that Doctor Thaksin deliberately concealed his vast wealth when he was deputy prime minister in 1997.

If the Constitutional Court upholds that ruling, he will will be barred from public office for five years.