Thaksin plays down opposition win

Mr Apirak won the governorship for the opposition Democrats

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says he is not troubled by the success of an opposition candidate in the race for Bangkok's governor.

Democrat Party candidate Apirak Kosayodhin won Sunday's poll, according to unofficial results.

His success is being seen as a setback for Mr Thaksin's Rak Thai party, ahead of the general election expected early next year.

But Mr Thaksin said the Bangkok result had "no link to the general election".

The official outcome of the Bangkok poll is not expected until Wednesday, but Mr Apirak has already emerged as the clear winner.

Mr Thaksin has congratulated him on his victory, and promised his support.

Pavena Hongsakul - the candidate who is thought to have come second - has also conceded defeat and offered her congratulations.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS 37% - Apirak Kosayodhin, CEO of mobile phone firm 25% - Pavena Hongsakul, women's rights campaigner 14% - Chuwit Kamolvisit, massage parlour entrepreneur

Mr Thaksin's ruling Rak Thai party did not field a candidate for the governor elections, but analysts say the party threw its weight behind Ms Pavena.

"I think Bangkokians voted for Apirak because they wanted to send a message to the government," Thirapat Serirangsan, dean of the political science department at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, told the French news agency AFP.

"The victory indicates rising discontent with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose dictatorial tendencies have forced Bangkokians to back the Democrat Party," wrote Kavi Chongkittavorn, a political columnist for The Nation newspaper.

Mr Thaksin, however, told reporters that "the Bangkok governor's election and the general election are not the same".

"Let's see what the Thai people say in January," he added.

Difficult task ahead

Mr Apirak will have four years to try and overcome some of the city's most pressing problems - such as pollution, traffic congestion and overpopulation.

More than 20 candidates ran for the post of Bangkok governor

But our correspondent in Bangkok, Simon Montlake, says he faces a difficult task - not least because the position of governor lacks the authority to make radical changes.

More than 20 people contested the election - many of whom had colourful pasts.

At least one candidate upset the election authorities with her style.

Candidate number six was disqualified after it was deemed that her campaign rallies, complete with green-wigged transvestite chorus girls, were more entertainment than politics.