A military-appointed council yesterday approved its final draft of a new constitution that is meant to guide Thailand back to democracy after last year's coup, but faces stiff opposition.

The document will go to a referendum next month, but campaigning is already underway to reject it, a result analysts fear could prompt fresh upheaval in a country rocked by 18months of political turmoil.

Noranit Sethaputra, president of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA), said 98 members had approved the charter, with no votes against it or abstentions.

"This meeting concluded that the referendum on this draft constitution will be held on August 19," he said.

Some 19 million copies of the 150-page charter will now be distributed to every household ahead of the country's first referendum.

The military, which ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra last September after months of protests over alleged graft, is pressing hard for voters to approve the charter, which they say will rein in the powers of

future premiers.

Elections have been promised by the junta for later this year, but a rejection of the charter could postpone polls.

Although some controversial aspects of the initial draft were watered down, Thaksin's allies said they were determined to quash the new constitution.

"We will ... work together with other groups of activists to educate people and convince them to reject the draft," said Surapong Suebwonglee, spokesman for Thai Rak Thai, the political party formed by Thaksin but officially dissolved in May.

"Compared to 1997 charter, this draft is less democratic," he told AFP.

Shortly after the generals seized power, they tossed out Thailand's 1997 constitution, which had been widely hailed as the most democratic the kingdom had ever known.

The military accused Thaksin of exploiting loopholes in the charter to consolidate power in the prime minister's office and enrich his business empire.