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| Thai opposition holds mass rally in Bangkok | Thai opposition holds mass rally in Bangkok |
| (7 days later) | |
| Tens of thousands of opposition-backed protesters have marched through the Thai capital in their continuing campaign to bring down the government. | Tens of thousands of opposition-backed protesters have marched through the Thai capital in their continuing campaign to bring down the government. |
| Rallies were held outside the Bangkok home of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as well as the city's main shopping areas and intersections. | 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. |
| Ms Yingluck called the polls earlier this month to try to end the protests. | Ms Yingluck called the polls earlier this month to try to end the protests. |
| She won the last election 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. |
| The protesters massed at five main intersections, disrupting traffic in the commercial heart of the capital. | The protesters massed at five main intersections, disrupting traffic in the commercial heart of the capital. |
| "People want reform before an election," protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said at a rally at a Bangkok shopping mall. | "People want reform before an election," protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said at a rally at a Bangkok shopping mall. |
| "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. | "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". | 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, not 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, 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. |
| 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. |