Thai opposition heads for big victory

Dr Thaksin in party mood with wife Potjaman after polls closed

The opposition Thai Rak Thai party has scored a runaway victory in Thailand's elections, possibly winning the first absolute parliamentary majority in the country's history.

Unofficial results put Thai Rak Thai (Thais love Thais) at between 245 and 256 seats in the 500-seat the House of Representatives.

We can't say when the result will be because there were many complaints and objections in many constituencies

Election commissioner

The Democrat Party of veteran Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has already acknowledged defeat after winning a projected 125 seats.

However, the country's Election Commission said it had received a flood of complaints about alleged voting fraud and technical errors which had delayed the result.

"We can't announce any official count and can't say when the official count result will be released," said commissioner Yuwarut Gamolvej.

Disqualification threat

Thai Rak Thai leader, the controvesial tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra, has stopped short of claiming victory, but is believed to be working to form a coalition that will give him a comfortable majority in parliament.

Chuan Leekpai has admitted defeat

Dr Thaksin, who founded Thailand's biggest telecommunications conglomerate, may himself face disqualification over allegations that he concealed some of his assets.

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

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

In his campaign, Dr Thaksin accused the prime minister of failing to lift Thailand out of the 1997 economic crisis, selling the country to foreign investors and neglecting the poor.

'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 poll. Early reports put the turn-out at about 60%.

Even before polling stations closed, election commission officials and monitors were reporting widespread vote-buying - despite a massive security operation.

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