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Thailand election disrupted by protests | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Protests have disrupted Thailand's general election, halting voting in parts of Bangkok and the south, but officials say that 89% of polling stations operated normally. | |
Voting was cancelled in 42 out of 333 districts in an election boycotted by the opposition. | |
PM Yingluck Shinawatra called the vote to head off weeks of mass protests. | |
Her party is widely expected to win but legal challenges and a lack of a quorum of MPs may create a political limbo. | Her party is widely expected to win but legal challenges and a lack of a quorum of MPs may create a political limbo. |
Ms Yingluck, who won the last election in 2011, voted soon after polls opened on Sunday near her Bangkok home. | Ms Yingluck, who won the last election in 2011, voted soon after polls opened on Sunday near her Bangkok home. |
Her opponents took to the streets in November after her government tried to pass an amnesty law that would potentially have allowed her brother, Thaksin, to return from exile. | Her opponents took to the streets in November after her government tried to pass an amnesty law that would potentially have allowed her brother, Thaksin, to return from exile. |
Thaksin, a former prime minister who fled during a court case in 2008, is reviled by the protesters, who say he controls the government from abroad. | Thaksin, a former prime minister who fled during a court case in 2008, is reviled by the protesters, who say he controls the government from abroad. |
'I want to vote' | 'I want to vote' |
Security has been heavy throughout Thailand, with vast areas under a state of emergency because of the protests. | Security has been heavy throughout Thailand, with vast areas under a state of emergency because of the protests. |
"The situation overall is calm and we haven't received any reports of violence this morning," National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabutr told Reuters. | "The situation overall is calm and we haven't received any reports of violence this morning," National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabutr told Reuters. |
Security officials said about 130,000 personnel had been deployed across Thailand on Sunday, including 12,000 in Bangkok. | Security officials said about 130,000 personnel had been deployed across Thailand on Sunday, including 12,000 in Bangkok. |
There has been little campaigning for the election and it was unclear how many Thais had turned out. | There has been little campaigning for the election and it was unclear how many Thais had turned out. |
Protests prevented voting from taking place in 438 of Bangkok's 6,671 polling stations, and there was no voting at all in nine southern provinces. | |
The government said there was no disruption in the north and north-east of the country. | |
Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party has overwhelming support in these regions, while the south and parts of the capital are strongholds of the opposition Democrat Party, which is boycotting the election. | |
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says demonstrators blocked access to voters at some polling stations in the capital and prevented ballot papers reaching those polling stations. | |
Some voters expressed frustration when they found their local polling stations blocked. | Some voters expressed frustration when they found their local polling stations blocked. |
"This is too much. I want to vote,"' 42-year-old Yupin Pintong told the Associated Press news agency. "I don't care if there's violence. I will be really upset if I don't get to vote." | "This is too much. I want to vote,"' 42-year-old Yupin Pintong told the Associated Press news agency. "I don't care if there's violence. I will be really upset if I don't get to vote." |
Anti-government activist Nipon Kaewsook told Reuters: "We're not blocking the election. We're postponing it.. We still need an election, but we need reform first." | Anti-government activist Nipon Kaewsook told Reuters: "We're not blocking the election. We're postponing it.. We still need an election, but we need reform first." |
One high-profile politician, independent candidate and anti-corruption campaigner Chuwit Kamolvisit, brawled with anti-election activists. | One high-profile politician, independent candidate and anti-corruption campaigner Chuwit Kamolvisit, brawled with anti-election activists. |
"They tried to attack me while I was trying to vote," he said. | "They tried to attack me while I was trying to vote," he said. |
"Today is an important day,'" Ms Yingluck said as she voted. "I would like to invite Thai people to come out and vote to uphold democracy." | "Today is an important day,'" Ms Yingluck said as she voted. "I would like to invite Thai people to come out and vote to uphold democracy." |
However, disruption to candidate registration means that even if she wins, there will not be enough MPs in parliament for Ms Yingluck to have full power over government policy, and by-elections will be needed. | However, disruption to candidate registration means that even if she wins, there will not be enough MPs in parliament for Ms Yingluck to have full power over government policy, and by-elections will be needed. |
The opposition is also likely to mount legal challenges to the election. | The opposition is also likely to mount legal challenges to the election. |
Ms Yingluck's party is already facing a host of challenges in the courts aiming to disband it, as has happened with pro-Thaksin parties in the past. | Ms Yingluck's party is already facing a host of challenges in the courts aiming to disband it, as has happened with pro-Thaksin parties in the past. |
The Democrat Party, which is allied to the protesters, has been unable to win a majority in parliament for more than two decades. | The Democrat Party, which is allied to the protesters, has been unable to win a majority in parliament for more than two decades. |
Many of its members want the government to be replaced by an unelected "people's council" that would oversee wide reform of the political system. | Many of its members want the government to be replaced by an unelected "people's council" that would oversee wide reform of the political system. |
Trouble broke out in Bangkok on Saturday in a violent clash between pro- and anti-government groups. | Trouble broke out in Bangkok on Saturday in a violent clash between pro- and anti-government groups. |
A gun battle erupted in the Lak Si constituency as anti-government protesters blockaded a building storing ballot papers. | A gun battle erupted in the Lak Si constituency as anti-government protesters blockaded a building storing ballot papers. |
At least seven people were wounded. | At least seven people were wounded. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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