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Thai protesters clash with police in Bangkok Thailand should call off election, says electoral commission
(about 4 hours later)
Thai police in the capital Bangkok have fired teargas at protesters trying to prevent political parties from registering for February's elections. Thailand should not hold an election in February because the risk of violence against candidates is too high, the electoral commission has said.
About 500 protesters tried to storm a stadium where election commission officials were working. The commission called on the government to postpone the 2 February vote.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called the snap elections after weeks of protests that demanded an unelected "people's council" take power. Bangkok police clashed earlier with protesters who were trying to prevent candidates from registering.
The demonstrators say political reforms are needed before polls can take place. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called the snap election after weeks of protests that demanded an unelected "people's council" take power.
The demonstrators dismissed the election, and the official opposition has refused to field candidates.
Protesters have further rejected another offer by Ms Yingluck to form a national reform council intended to run alongside her government.
They want Ms Yingluck to step down immediately.
On Thursday, the protesters - some of whom were throwing stones - tried to break into the stadium where the electoral commission was registering candidates.On Thursday, the protesters - some of whom were throwing stones - tried to break into the stadium where the electoral commission was registering candidates.
But police responded with tear gas, dispersing the crowd. But police responded with tear gas, dispersing the crowd. There were no reports of serious injuries.
There were no reports of serious injuries.
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.
Last Sunday, she said elections must take place and urged protesters to express their views at the ballot box. Last Sunday, she said the election must take place and urged protesters to express their views at the ballot box.
"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," she asked.
The Pheu Thai Party won the last election in 2011, and has a majority in parliament. Her Pheu Thai Party won the last election in 2011 and has a big majority in parliament.
However, protesters say her brother - ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra - remains in charge.However, protesters say her brother - ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra - remains in charge.
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 latest crisis was sparked after the government attempted to pass an amnesty law that would have allowed Thaksin to return to Thailand.
He is still hugely popular in rural areas and in the north, and parties linked to him have won convincing majorities in every election they have contested since 2001.
But many city-dwellers bitterly oppose Mr Thaksin and have several times paralysed governments allied to him by launching massive demonstrations.