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| Thaksin allies 'lead Thai vote' | Thaksin allies 'lead Thai vote' |
| (20 minutes 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. |
| The exit polls are divided on whether the PPP has won an outright majority. | The exit polls are divided on whether the PPP has won an outright majority. |
| 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. | 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 building | Coalition building |
| 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 held Key election figuresThailand's turbulent yearProfile: Thaksin Shinawatra class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7158204.stm">In pictures: Thailand votes | |
| 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. |
| One voter, Roongchai, told the BBC that he liked Thaksin because he was "brave enough to change things". | One voter, Roongchai, told the BBC that he liked Thaksin because he was "brave enough to change things". |
| "He might have made mistakes, but overall he brought positive change." | "He might have made mistakes, but overall he brought positive change." |
| Return from exile? | Return from exile? |
| Thai voters give their views on who should run their countryIn pictures Surapong Suebwonglee, secretary general of PPP, said the poll was "a victory for people and democracy". | Thai voters give their views on who should run their countryIn pictures Surapong Suebwonglee, secretary general of PPP, said the poll was "a victory for people and democracy". |
| "It shows that the coup one-and-a-half years ago has not benefited the country or anyone," he told the AFP news agency. | "It shows that the coup one-and-a-half years ago has not benefited the country or anyone," he told the AFP news agency. |
| 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 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. |
| If he does return to the Thailand, Mr Thaksin will have to answer a number of corruption charges levelled against him in the courts. | If he does return to the Thailand, Mr Thaksin will have to answer a number of corruption charges levelled against him in the courts. |