Thailand's new constitution draft ready for review by junta-established council

Thailand's constitution drafters have submitted the draft of a new national charter to an advisory council for review, nearly a year after the military took power from an elected government.

The military abolished an earlier constitution after the May 22 coup, and the government operates under a temporary charter. The junta later picked the drafters and a 250-member National Reform Council to help write a new constitution.

Constitution Drafting Committee spokesman Lertrat Rattanavanich says he hopes the new constitution will move the country past cycles of political conflicts.

However, critics say the charter is aimed at preventing a political comeback by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in 2006.

The drafting committee will later submit the draft to the junta and the Cabinet for separate reviews.