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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thaksin ally claims Thai poll win | Thaksin ally claims Thai poll win |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The leader of the party allied to Thailand's ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra has claimed victory in the nation's general election. | The leader of the party allied to Thailand's ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra has claimed victory in the nation's general election. |
| Samak Sundaravej said his People Power Party (PPP) would form the next government, though partial results show it is short of an outright majority. | Samak Sundaravej said his People Power Party (PPP) would form the next government, though partial results show it is short of an outright majority. |
| The election is the first since the 2006 coup that overthrew Mr Thaksin. | The election is the first since the 2006 coup that overthrew Mr Thaksin. |
| Correspondents say a PPP win would be a big setback to the military, which has tried to counter Mr Thaksin's allies. | Correspondents say a PPP win would be a big setback to the military, which has tried to counter Mr Thaksin's allies. |
| Phone call | Phone call |
| Full results are expected by about midnight (1700 GMT). | Full results are expected by about midnight (1700 GMT). |
| But Mr Samak, 72, said: "I will be the next prime minister for sure." | But Mr Samak, 72, said: "I will be the next prime minister for sure." |
| He said that the PPP might be "only 10 seats short of a majority", adding: "I invite all the parties to join our government." | He said that the PPP might be "only 10 seats short of a majority", adding: "I invite all the parties to join our government." |
| 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 ShinawatraIn pictures: Thailand votes | 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 ShinawatraIn pictures: Thailand votes |
| A total of 241 seats are needed for a majority in the 480-seat house. | A total of 241 seats are needed for a majority in the 480-seat house. |
| Thai media reports said the PPP was on course to win 220-230 seats. | Thai media reports said the PPP was on course to win 220-230 seats. |
| Mr Samak said he had spoken to Mr Thaksin, who is in Hong Kong, by telephone. | Mr Samak said he had spoken to Mr Thaksin, who is in Hong Kong, by telephone. |
| "Thaksin said 'congratulations'," Mr Samak said. | "Thaksin said 'congratulations'," Mr Samak said. |
| The PPP leader added: "This is a victory for all Thai people who unreasonably lost their freedom on September 19." | |
| That was the date in 2006 when the military removed Mr Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party from power. | |
| Mr Thaksin, who is now banned from Thai politics, has since lived in self-imposed exile abroad, mainly in Britain. | |
| Thai voters give their views on who should run their countryIn pictures | |
| However, his allies have promised he would return. | |
| Mr Samak said on Sunday: "Thaksin said he will come back after the government is formed." | |
| If he does return to Thailand, Mr Thaksin will have to answer a number of corruption charges levelled against him in the courts. | |
| Election monitors said that voting had mostly proceeded smoothly and been well-organised, despite complaints of vote-buying and other irregularities. | Election monitors said that voting had mostly proceeded smoothly and been well-organised, despite complaints of vote-buying and other irregularities. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head says that if the PPP has not won an outright majority, there will be considerable pressure on smaller parties to form a coalition with the PPP's main rival, the Democrats. | The BBC's Jonathan Head says that if the PPP has not won an outright majority, there will be considerable pressure on smaller 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. |
| What stance the military takes will also be a key issue. |