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Thai opposition holds mass rally in Bangkok Thai opposition holds mass rally in Bangkok
(about 3 hours later)
The Thai opposition is holding a mass rally in the capital Bangkok as its campaign to bring down the government of Yingluck Shinawatra continues. Tens of thousands of opposition-backed protesters have marched through the Thai capital in their continuing campaign to bring down the government.
Protest leaders say they expect a turnout of hundreds of thousands of people. Rallies were held outside the Bangkok home of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as well as the city's main shopping areas and intersections.
On Saturday the main opposition Democrat Party said it would boycott elections called for 2 February.On Saturday the main opposition Democrat Party said it would boycott elections called for 2 February.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called the election earlier this month in a bid to end weeks of protests. Ms Yingluck called the polls earlier this month to try to end the protests.
Ms Yingluck won the last elections in 2011, but protesters say her brother - the controversial ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra - remains in charge. She won the last election in 2011, but protesters say her brother - the controversial ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra - remains in charge.
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said he hoped Sunday's rally will raise the pressure on Ms Yingluck and her government, the Bangkok Post reported. The protesters massed at five main intersections, disrupting traffic in the commercial heart of the capital.
The protesters have set up stages at five main intersections and will be attempting to shut down the traffic in the commercial heart of the capital, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok. "People want reform before an election," protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said at a rally at a Bangkok shopping mall.
The head of the Thai army has warned the country's political divisions could "trigger a civil war". "Today we closed Bangkok for half a day. If the government doesn't resign we will close Bangkok for a whole day... If it still does not resign we will close it for a month," he is quoted as saying by the French news agency AFP.
The opposition-backed protests in Bangkok have caused Thailand's most serious political turmoil since 2010, with four people killed in clashes in recent weeks.The opposition-backed protests in Bangkok have caused Thailand's most serious political turmoil since 2010, with four people killed in clashes in recent weeks.
'People's assembly' call'People's assembly' call
At a news conference on Saturday, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters his party had agreed it would not field candidates in the snap elections.At a news conference on Saturday, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters his party had agreed it would not field candidates in the snap elections.
"The Thai people have lost their faith in the democratic system," he said, adding that "Thai politics is at a failed stage"."The Thai people have lost their faith in the democratic system," he said, adding that "Thai politics is at a failed stage".
The prime minister dissolved parliament and called the election on 9 December in a bid, she said, to avoid violence on the streets and "to give back the power to the Thai people".The prime minister dissolved parliament and called the election on 9 December in a bid, she said, to avoid violence on the streets and "to give back the power to the Thai people".
Her Pheu Thai party has a majority in parliament, and draws significant support from Thailand's rural areas. It is seen as well-placed to win February's election.Her Pheu Thai party has a majority in parliament, and draws significant support from Thailand's rural areas. It is seen as well-placed to win February's election.
The head of the Thai army has warned the country's political divisions could "trigger a civil war".
General Prayuth Chan-ocha said he was deeply concerned by the latest crisis, with divisions not just in Bangkok but across the whole country.General Prayuth Chan-ocha said he was deeply concerned by the latest crisis, with divisions not just in Bangkok but across the whole country.
He has proposed a "people's assembly" - made up of civilians from both sides, not the leaders, to heal the divisions. He has proposed a "people's assembly" - made up of civilians, not leaders, to heal the divisions.
Setting out his vision of a "people's assembly", he said it should be made up of people from both sides of the political divide - known as the "red shirts", those who support Thaksin Shinawatra, and the "yellow shirts", those who oppose him. Setting out his vision, he said it should be made up of people from both sides of the political divide - known as the "red shirts", those who support Thaksin Shinawatra, and the "yellow shirts", those who oppose him.
He stressed his grouping would be different to the "people's council" proposed by the opposition.He stressed his grouping would be different to the "people's council" proposed by the opposition.
"The people's assembly must not be organised or sponsored by any conflicting group, as it would not be accepted by the other side," he said."The people's assembly must not be organised or sponsored by any conflicting group, as it would not be accepted by the other side," he said.
His comments came after a defence council meeting on Friday to discuss the 2 February election.
Defence spokesman Col Thanatip Sawangsaeng said the army "is ready to support the Election Commission in organising the elections when asked".
But a military source has told the BBC that privately the army believes it would be better for the election to be delayed - as sought by the opposition parties.
Protests began nearly a month ago after Thailand's lower house passed a controversial amnesty bill, which critics said could allow Thaksin Shinawatra to return without serving time in jail.Protests began nearly a month ago after Thailand's lower house passed a controversial amnesty bill, which critics said could allow Thaksin Shinawatra to return without serving time in jail.
Mr Thaksin is currently in self-imposed exile after he was overthrown in a military army coup in 2006 and convicted of corruption.Mr Thaksin is currently in self-imposed exile after he was overthrown in a military army coup in 2006 and convicted of corruption.
The protesters say the former prime minister remains the power behind the ruling Pheu Thai party, and accuse it of using public funds irresponsibly to secure votes.The protesters say the former prime minister remains the power behind the ruling Pheu Thai party, and accuse it of using public funds irresponsibly to secure votes.
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