Khon Kaen _ Failed candidates from the New Aspiration, Mahachon and Democrat parties filed vote-counting and vote-buying complaints in Khon Kaen yesterday.

Apichart Singkleebut of New Aspiration and Siripong Arundechachai of Mahachon led about 1,000 local canvassers and supporters to Ban Phai district office yesterday morning to complain against vote-counting procedures there.

Mr Apichart said counted and punched ballots had been suspiciously recounted without permission and his team and that of Mr Siripong had taped the goings-on.

He claimed to have about 50,000 signatures of the local people to back their demand for a ballot recount or a re-election there.

Mr Apichart also complained that initially he trailed far behind Thai Rak Thai's Ruangdej Suphanfai but later caught up with him and nearly overtook him. He has demanded a vote recount.

Ban Phai district chief Lertsin Jungcharas, who supervised the election in the constituency, said the complainants did not understand what was going on.

He explained that ballots had been recounted for a double-check.

The first count found 500 ballots and the second 501, so a third count was made for a confirmation and they found 500 ballots.

Yesterday afternoon Chaiyong Seubsarakham, the constituency 3 Democrat candidate, accused his Social Action and Thai Rak Thai counterparts Athapol Chainansamit and Jatuporn Charoenchua of vote-buying.

He handed a tape and a compact disc as evidence to the commission and claimed to have recorded the voices of the people who had received the money.

He also presented 100-baht bank notes allegedly distributed by his rivals to back his accusation.