A council appointed by Thailand's military rulers has rejected a controversial new constitution drafted after last year's coup.<br />A new committee must now be appointed to write another draft, further setting back elections.<br />The draft has been widely criticised, in particular a clause which enables a 23-member panel to take over government during a "national crisis".<br />The army ousted the elected government last year after months of unrest.<br />The 247-member National Reform Council on Sunday rejected the draft charter by 135 votes to 105, with seven abstentions.<br />Preliminary conversations with members of the council suggest a number of factors.<br />Some say they wanted to give the new economic team appointed last month by Prime Minister Prayuth more time to improve the ailing economy.
