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Thailand election: Country goes to polls Thailand tense for disputed general election
(about 1 hour later)
Millions of Thais are voting in a general election boycotted by the opposition and blighted by protests. Voters in Thailand are going to the polls in an election boycotted by the opposition and blighted by protests.
Anti-government protesters are trying to disrupt the vote across Thailand and continue their campaign to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign. Anti-government activists have forced some polling stations in Bangkok and the south to close but a large majority elsewhere are said to be peaceful.
Ms Yingluck voted soon after polls opened on Sunday near her Bangkok home. PM Yingluck Shinawatra called the vote to head off weeks of mass protests aimed at forcing her to resign.
The prime minister, who won the last election in 2011, called the vote to head off mass protests that began in November. Her party is widely expected to win but legal challenges and a lack of a quorum of MPs may create a political limbo.
Her opponents took to the streets after her government tried to pass an amnesty law that would potentially have allowed her brother, Thaksin, to return from exile. 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.
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'
Security is heavy throughout Thailand, with vast areas under a state of emergency because of the protests.Security is 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.
"The protesters are rallying peacefully to show their opposition to this election," he said. 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 would be deployed across Thailand on Sunday, including 12,000 in Bangkok.
Polling stations opened at 08:00 (01:00 GMT) and will close at 15:00 (08:00 GMT), but there has been little campaigning and it is unclear how many Thais will turn out.Polling stations opened at 08:00 (01:00 GMT) and will close at 15:00 (08:00 GMT), but there has been little campaigning and it is unclear how many Thais will turn out.
Polling is being disrupted in five districts in the capital and elsewhere in the south, strongholds of the opposition Democrat Party, which is boycotting the election. Voting in 13 of Bangkok's 33 constituencies, and in 37 of 56 constituencies in the south was disrupted.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says crowds of demonstrators there are blocking access to would-be voters at some polling stations and preventing ballot papers reaching those polling stations. These are strongholds of the opposition Democrat Party, which is boycotting the election.
However, polling stations in the other 28 electoral districts in the capital are open. The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says demonstrators are blocking access to voters at some polling stations and preventing ballot papers reaching those polling stations.
"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." Some voters expressed frustration when they found their local polling stations blocked.
Some voters expressed frustration when they found their local polling stations blockaded by opposition supporters.
"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."
Ballot blockade 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."
Trouble broke out in Bangkok on Saturday when pro-government groups tried to access a building that was storing ballot papers. Polling in the rural north and east, where Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party has overwhelming support, is largely unaffected.
Anti-government protesters had blockaded the building, and opened fire with handguns and rifles, sending journalists and passers-by fleeing for cover during a 30-minute gun battle. "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."
Footage from the scene showed pro-government protesters nursing injuries, and anti-government protesters firing guns. 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.
US photojournalist James Nachtwey was hit in the leg by a bullet, but was not seriously injured. The opposition is also likely to mount legal challenges to the election.
"I consider myself extremely lucky," Mr Nachtwey told the Wall Street Journal. 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.
Correspondents say less unrest is expected in the rural north and east, because Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party has such overwhelming support.
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 their 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.
Even if the election passes off peacefully, the result will almost certainly be challenged in the courts and could be annulled. Trouble broke out in Bangkok on Saturday in a violent clash between pro- and anti-government groups.
Ms Yingluck's party is already facing a host of legal challenges that could see it disbanded, as has happened with pro-Thaksin parties in the past. 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.
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