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| Thailand holds first referendum | Thailand holds first referendum |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Voting has begun in Thailand's first ever referendum, in which people will choose whether to accept or reject a new constitution. | Voting has begun in Thailand's first ever referendum, in which people will choose whether to accept or reject a new constitution. |
| The vote, called by the military-backed government that ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra last year, is also seen as a plebiscite on its seizure of power. | The vote, called by the military-backed government that ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra last year, is also seen as a plebiscite on its seizure of power. |
| The government has sent copies of the 149-page document to all 18 million homes in Thailand. | The government has sent copies of the 149-page document to all 18 million homes in Thailand. |
| Mr Thaksin's supporters want to see the constitution rejected. | Mr Thaksin's supporters want to see the constitution rejected. |
| They say the charter is the creation of an illegitimate government. | They say the charter is the creation of an illegitimate government. |
| Political turmoil | Political turmoil |
| Election officials said they expected to announce the results late on Sunday. | |
| Coup leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin urged people to vote, in a live TV address earlier in the day. | |
| "I would like to ask people to come out to vote in the referendum. Today is an important and historic day," he said. | |
| The constitution is meant to replace the popular 1997 constitution, which the generals tore up after seizing power. | |
| Coup central to Thai charter vote | Coup central to Thai charter vote |
| Critics say the new constitution is less democratic, as it proposes that the Senate should be only partly elected. | Critics say the new constitution is less democratic, as it proposes that the Senate should be only partly elected. |
| But the government says there were too many loopholes in the old charter that allowed Mr Thaksin to abuse power. | But the government says there were too many loopholes in the old charter that allowed Mr Thaksin to abuse power. |
| Its also says the new charter has many other clauses, like those recognising minority rights, which are more liberal than before. | Its also says the new charter has many other clauses, like those recognising minority rights, which are more liberal than before. |
| The draft document limits future prime ministers to two terms in office and makes it easier to impeach them. | The draft document limits future prime ministers to two terms in office and makes it easier to impeach them. |
| The military has promised elections to restore democratic government by the end of the year, if the constitution is approved. | The military has promised elections to restore democratic government by the end of the year, if the constitution is approved. |
| But if the charter is rejected, the military has said it will pick any one of Thailand's 16 previous constitutions instead. | But if the charter is rejected, the military has said it will pick any one of Thailand's 16 previous constitutions instead. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Thailand says the government hopes Thais will be persuaded to approve the charter to avoid leaving the country mired in political turmoil. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in Thailand says the government hopes Thais will be persuaded to approve the charter to avoid leaving the country mired in political turmoil. |