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Thai protesters block poll registration stadium Stadium blockade fails to thwart Thai poll registration
(about 11 hours later)
Anti-government demonstrators in Thailand have surrounded the stadium where candidates were due to register to stand in February's elections. Thai anti-government protesters have failed to stop candidates signing up for a general election, despite surrounding venues for registration.
They say political reform is needed before elections take place. Large crowds ringed a sports stadium in central Bangkok, in their latest attempt to thwart the February poll.
On Sunday, tens of thousands took to the streets of Bangkok, calling on the government to step down. But some candidates managed to register instead at a local police station, which protesters then also besieged.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who called the polls in December try to end the rallies, urged protesters to respect the "democratic system". PM Yingluck Shinawatra called the poll after protests that demanded an unelected council take power.
The main opposition Democrat Party has said it would boycott February's elections. The demonstrators believe political reform is needed before elections can take place.
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who was previously a senior Democrat Party politician, said on Sunday: "We disagree with the election. We want the country to be reformed before the election." On Sunday, tens of thousands took to the streets of Bangkok in a renewed protest.
He urged protesters to gather outside Bangkok's Thai-Japanese stadium, where candidate registrations were set to take place, on Monday. The main opposition Democrat Party has said it will boycott the 2 February vote.
"If you want to apply for candidacy, you must walk past our feet first," he said. 'Slipped in'
Political parties began registering their candidates at a local police station instead, while protesters responded by surrounding the police station as well, correspondents say. Hard-core protesters had camped out all night at the stadium in central Bangkok where candidate registration was due to take place.
Finding the entrances blocked, the political parties' delegations went to report their difficulties at the local police station - but then improvised, and carried out registration there, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports.
Protesters then moved in to surround the police station - but failed to stop the first stage of the parties' campaign being completed.
Officials from the ruling Pheu Thai party and eight others managed to register for the election by slipping into the stadium very early in the morning, while the protesters slept, the Associated Press reported, quoting the state Election Commission.
Registration is scheduled to continue for two weeks, and protesters have pledged to keep obstructing the campaign.
Our correspondent says there are also concerns about possible clashes between rival supporters, and about whether the result of an election which the main opposition party has chosen to boycott would be broadly accepted.
The military has suggested delaying the vote - but that would not change the underlying political loyalties which give a strong advantage to Yingluck Shinawatra's party.
Another victory by her side will not be accepted by those opposed to her family in the capital, and so will not end Thailand's turmoil, our correspondent says.
'Accept the system''Accept the system'
Ms Yingluck dissolved parliament and called an election on 9 December, after more than 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets calling for her government to step down.Ms Yingluck dissolved parliament and called an election on 9 December, after more than 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets calling for her government to step down.
On Sunday, Ms Yingluck told reporters that elections must take place, and urged protesters to express their views at the ballot box. On Sunday, Ms Yingluck said elections must take place and urged protesters to express their views at the ballot box.
She said: "If we don't hold on to the democratic system, what should we hold on to?" "If we don't hold on to the democratic system, what should we hold on to?"
"If you don't accept this government, please accept the system," Ms Yingluck added. He Pheu Thai Party won the last election in 2011, and has a majority in parliament. However protesters say her brother - ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra - remains in charge.
Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai Party won the last election in 2011, and has a majority in parliament. However protesters say her brother - ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra - remains in charge.
The protesters also accuse the Pheu Thai Party of using public funds irresponsibly to secure votes.
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.
In 2010, more than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died when a two-month sit-in in Bangkok by thousands of red-shirt Thaksin supporters ended in violence.
The latest protests have been mostly peaceful, although four people have died in clashes.
Some protesters are now arguing that Thailand should abandon the principle of one person one vote, because the governing party's popularity in rural areas virtually guarantees it victory, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports.