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Thailand protests: Six injured in clashes | Thailand protests: Six injured in clashes |
(35 minutes later) | |
A clash between pro- and anti-government groups in Thailand has left six people injured, three of them seriously. | A clash between pro- and anti-government groups in Thailand has left six people injured, three of them seriously. |
The violence, just outside Bangkok, occurred as the capital braces itself for a total shutdown planned by the anti-government movement for next week. | The violence, just outside Bangkok, occurred as the capital braces itself for a total shutdown planned by the anti-government movement for next week. |
Guns were fired and explosives thrown in Friday's incident. | Guns were fired and explosives thrown in Friday's incident. |
The protesters have been campaigning to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra since last November. | The protesters have been campaigning to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra since last November. |
The anti-government movement has occupied several streets in Bangkok, and blockaded Ms Yingluck's offices. | The anti-government movement has occupied several streets in Bangkok, and blockaded Ms Yingluck's offices. |
The protests have largely been peaceful, because the government's supporters have kept away from the anti-government side. | The protests have largely been peaceful, because the government's supporters have kept away from the anti-government side. |
Populist policies | |
The protests began when the lower house of parliament passed a controversial amnesty bill, which some feared would allow former leader Thaksin Shinawatra - the brother of the current prime minister - to return to Thailand without serving a jail sentence for corruption. | |
Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006, but the protesters believe he is still controlling events in Thailand through his sister and her government. | |
He remains popular with many rural voters, and Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party is considered likely to win next month's election. | |
The protesters say her populist policies have created a flawed democracy, and want her government replaced with an unelected "People's Council". | |
They want the government to call off the election planned for 2 February, but the administration says it is sticking to its timetable. | |
However the BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, says that a series of court decisions - which could result in many candidates being banned or unable to contest the election - mean that even if it goes ahead, it is unlikely to produce enough MPs for a new parliament to sit. | However the BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, says that a series of court decisions - which could result in many candidates being banned or unable to contest the election - mean that even if it goes ahead, it is unlikely to produce enough MPs for a new parliament to sit. |
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