Senate winners remain in limbo

Senate winners remain in limbo

BANGKOK (AP): The outcome of landmark Senate elections
remained in limbo on Wednesday as election authorities delayed
announcing official results, scrutinizing each seat for signs of
cheating.

The election for 200 senators was the first held under a
reform-oriented constitution aimed at cleaning up rampant
corruption in Thai politics, and the Election Commission
overseeing the polls was trying on Wednesday to exercise its new
powers.

Officials said they would not announce the results until they
had recounted ballots and screened which of the winners in
Saturday's polling had won honestly and which showed signs of
cheating.

Election officials said new votes could be held in provinces
where seats were judged to have been won through vote-buying or
other fraud, but it was unclear what threshold of proof would be
applied.