Thai opposition wins race for Bangkok governor

The closely-watched election culminated late Sunday with a record turnout in the Thai capital and a convincing win by the Democrat party's Apirak Kosay-odhin over Pavena Hongsakul, a former MP and an independent candidate implicitly supported by the ruling administration.

Official results will not be verified until Wednesday at the earliest, but the city administration has released unofficial figures declaring Apirak the victor with 37 percent of the vote, followed by Pavena with 25 percent and Bangkok's massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit third with 13.5 percent. Thaksin's ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party did not have a candidate for the election after its favoured choice refused to enter the race.