THE United States ambassador to Thailand has dismissed claims his country interfered in recent elections as a “disservice” to the Thai people.

Robert Godec said today that Washington does not support any individual candidate or political party.

Claims of US meddling in the May 14 vote have circulated since the opposition Move Forward Party emerged as the top vote-getter and another opposition party came second, raising the possibility of a new coalition government that could take power from Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha.

Move Forward is seen as nominally more pro-US than Mr Prayuth, a former general who initially came to power in a military coup nine years ago, and the claims of US interference in the election are widely seen as originating from supporters of the current status quo.

A large group of protesters demonstrated in front of the US embassy in April, accusing Washington of interfering in Thailand’s political affairs.

Mr Godec told Thai journalists the rumours and conspiracy theories “do a disservice to the tens of millions who participated in the political process as voters, as election officials, as poll watchers.”

He added: “We categorically reject the false rumours that the United States interfered in the Thai election.”