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Thailand holds first referendum Thai voters 'approve new charter'
(about 7 hours later)
Voting has begun in Thailand's first ever referendum, in which people will choose whether to accept or reject a new constitution. Thailand's military coup leaders have won a referendum on a new constitution by a large margin, taking around 70% of Sunday's vote, exit polls suggest.
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. It was the first vote to be held since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the army last year and replaced with Gen Surayud Chulanont.
The government has sent copies of the 149-page document to all 18 million homes in Thailand. About 60% of voters turned out, according to the election commission.
Mr Thaksin's supporters want to see the constitution rejected. Thaksin supporters had urged a No vote, saying the new constitution had been drafted by an illegitimate government.
They say the charter is the creation of an illegitimate government. But Prime Minister Surayud said the result marked a victory.
Turnout crucial "We consider that this constitution has been approved by the people, and by the end of August the constitution will be submitted to the king for endorsement," he told national television.
Election officials said they expected to announce the results late on Sunday. This referendum was about a lot more than the 194-page constitution which few Thais are likely to have read, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok - it was also a vote on the coup itself.
Coup leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin urged people to vote, in a live TV address earlier in the day. 'Loopholes'
The charter is meant to replace the popular 1997 constitution, which the generals tore up after seizing power.
Coup central to Thai charter voteCoup central to Thai charter vote
"I would like to ask people to come out to vote in the referendum. Today is an important and historic day," he said.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that anything less than a 50% turnout would be interpreted by many people here as a show of disapproval for last year's coup.
The constitution is meant to replace the popular 1997 constitution, which the generals tore up after seizing power.
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.
'No' campaign
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, on the basis of the new constitution.
But if the charter is rejected, the military has said it will pick any one of Thailand's 16 previous constitutions instead. Considerable opposition to the new rulers remains in the countryside of the north and north-east, where poor farmers stay loyal to Mr Thaksin.
Our correspondent says the government hopes Thais will be persuaded to approve the charter to avoid leaving the country mired in political turmoil.
But there is considerable opposition to it in the countryside of the north and north-east, where poor farmers remain loyal to Mr Thaksin.
His supporters have been campaigning for the constitution to be rejected, arguing that it is illegitimate and less democratic than the one the generals threw out after the coup.