"Yes" votes expected to win by slight margin : Samak

"The anticharter campaign by Thai Rak Thai supporters was nothing but an attempt to check popular rating," he said.

Samak spoke after casting his referendum ballot at a Bung Kum polling station.

He said the referendum outcome was a crucial step for the general election later this year.

"I want to thank Prime Minister Surayud (Chulanont) who has confirmed the Election Day for either December 16 or 23; this is a good sign for an improved political situation to fend off foreign critics," he said.

Commenting on the anticharter campaign, he said not all Thai Rak Thai supporters were bent on attacking the junta. He admitted, however, that a larger clique of the disbanded party tried to defeat the charter.

He voiced confidence that once politics got back on track, Thaksin would end his London exile in order to clear his name.

He said he saw a fighting chance for Thaksin to be acquited of all charges.

The 2003 Ratchadapisek land case showed no malicious intent to abuse power because Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman bought the plot in an honest transaction, he said.

The SC Asset Corporation equity case has yet to be proven about alleged covering up of shares, he said.

"I believe Thaksin can rebut all charges," he said, adding that authorities did not have a case for prosecution on the procurement of CTX bomb detection equipment for Suvarnabhumi Airport as no commission fees were actually paid.

Turning to his candidacy to lead the People Power Party, a new home for former Thai Rak Thai members, he said he has yet to win a friendly race with an ally and challenger Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

"One clique wants me as party leader while another favours Chavalit; let's wait and see who will take the job," he said in reference to the party convention on leadership scheduled for Friday.

He expressed readiness to steer his party to contest the elections.

"I am now 72 and have a 30year advantage over Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva," he said.

He said he had a lead on political maturity which Abhisit, 43, has yet to catch up with him.

"Abhisit has portrayed me as an expired medicine but I think he is a gasinduced ripening mango which lacks sensory delight," he said.