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Thaksin allies 'lead Thai vote' Thaksin allies 'lead Thai vote'
(about 2 hours later)
Initial exit polls suggest that the party allied to Thailand's ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra has taken a strong lead in general elections.Initial exit polls suggest that the party allied to Thailand's ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra has taken a strong lead in general elections.
One poll gave the People Power Party (PPP) 202 out of 480 seats, while another gave it 256.One poll gave the People Power Party (PPP) 202 out of 480 seats, while another gave it 256.
However, a BBC correspondent in Bangkok warns that the exit polls should be treated with caution. However a BBC correspondent in Bangkok warns that the exit polls should be treated with caution.
This is Thailand's first election since the military coup that overthrew Mr Thaksin in September 2006.This is Thailand's first election since the military coup that overthrew Mr Thaksin in September 2006.
Unofficial results are expected to be announced at around midnight (1700 GMT).Unofficial results are expected to be announced at around midnight (1700 GMT).
Election monitors say that voting has mostly proceeded smoothly and been well-organised, despite complaints of vote-buying and other irregularities.Election monitors say that voting has mostly proceeded smoothly and been well-organised, despite complaints of vote-buying and other irregularities.
But all eyes will now be on the military, as there are fears of another intervention if the PPP forms a government. The exit polls are divided on whether the PPP has won an outright majority.
The BBC's Jonathan Head says that if the PPP does not win a clear majority there would be considerable pressure on the middle ranking parties to form a coalition with the PPP's main rival, the Democrats. The BBC's Jonathan Head says that if it has not, there will be considerable pressure on middle-ranking parties to form a coalition with the PPP's main rival, the Democrats.
But, he says, this could lead to further instability as a multi-party government could well prove weak and short-lived.But, he says, this could lead to further instability as a multi-party government could well prove weak and short-lived.
Coalition buildingCoalition building
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/asia_pac_thailand0s_election/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/asia_pac_thailand0s_election/html/1.stm', '1198043664', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Thai voters give their views on who should run their country href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/asia_pac_thailand0s_election/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/asia_pac_thailand0s_election/html/1.stm', '1198043664', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures POST-COUP TIMELINE September 2006: Coup overthrows Thaksin ShinawatraOctober 2006: Retired General Surayud Chulanont is appointed interim leaderMay 2007: Court bans Mr Thaksin from politics for five years, and dissolves his partyAugust 2007: Voters approve a new constitution 23 December 2007: Election class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7151412.stm">Key election figures class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7154296.stm">Thailand's turbulent year class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1108114.stm">Profile: Thaksin Shinawatra Mr Thaksin himself has been in exile since the coup, and he and his Thai Rak Thai party were banned from politics by the military government.
Mr Thaksin himself has been in exile since the coup, and he and his Thai Rak Thai party were banned from politics by the military government.
But his allies have resurfaced under the PPP banner, and analysts say they have benefited from Mr Thaksin's populist appeal, especially in the countryside.But his allies have resurfaced under the PPP banner, and analysts say they have benefited from Mr Thaksin's populist appeal, especially in the countryside.
"This country has been handed a very bad government in the past for several years," one voter told the BBC. One voter, Roongchai, told the BBC that he liked Thaksin because he was "brave enough to change things".
"So this is a time for people to show their right to choose the right person." "He might have made mistakes, but overall he brought positive change."
Bangkok's Suan Dusit College said the PPP had won 256 out of the 480 parliamentary seats, giving it a clear majority. Return from exile?
But Assumption University's ABAC poll said the PPP had only won enough votes for 202 seats - in line with pre-election expectations. href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/asia_pac_thailand0s_election/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/asia_pac_thailand0s_election/html/1.stm', '1198043664', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Thai voters give their views on who should run their country href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/asia_pac_thailand0s_election/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/asia_pac_thailand0s_election/html/1.stm', '1198043664', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures Surapong Suebwonglee, secretary general of PPP, said the poll was "a victory for people and democracy".
If the latter poll is right, there will be period of bargaining with other parties and a coalition government is expected. "It shows that the coup one-and-a-half years ago has not benefited the country or anyone," he told the AFP news agency.
Return from exile The PPP's right-wing leader Samak Sundaravej, 72, says he expects Mr Thaksin to return to Thailand from self-imposed exile in the UK if PPP wins an outright majority.
The AFP agency reports that Surapong Suebwonglee, secretary general of PPP said the poll was "a victory for people and democracy". If he does return to the Thailand, Mr Thaksin will have to answer a number of corruption charges levelled against him in the courts.
"It shows that the coup one-and-a-half years ago has not benefited the country or anyone," he said.
Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who deposed Mr Thaksin in September 2006 to become deputy prime minister in an interim government that he appointed, urged Thais to vote for "good people loyal" to the monarchy.
The PPP's right-wing leader Samak Sundaravej, 72, says he expects Mr Thaksin will return to Thailand from self-imposed exile in the UK after the election if PPP win an outright majority.
The former prime minister still faces a number of corruption charges in Thailand.