Early results have shown a strong protest vote that could keep Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai prime minister, from claiming a decisive mandate, after a snap poll following weeks of unrest. Refusing to recognise the election as legitimate, the opposition boycotted Sunday's polls, which Thaksin called three years early to counter the street campaign. The result is that nearly 70% of the 399 seats at stake were uncontested and many will be left empty, according to election rules - preventing a new government being formed. Thaksin's opponents called on voters to tick the "no vote" box on their ballots, a strategy that appeared to work in Bangkok. With half the votes counted in the capital, "no votes" were in the majority, Channel 7 news reported. The city is usually the first to report results.But Thaksin's main support comes from the countryside and early returns showed he was getting solid support there - enough to hand him another big parliamentary majority. Thai media reported turnout was around 70% of the 45 million electorate, compared with 73% in the last election in February, 2005. Final official results were expected late on Monday.