Thai PM calls elections as 140,000 join protest

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://news.xin.msn.com/en/top-stories/thai-pm-calls-elections-as-140000-join-protest-3#scpshrtu

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has faced more than a month of sometimes-violent protests by boisterous demonstrators storming key government buildings in a bid to suspend the country's democracy in favour of an unelected "People's Council".

Thai opposition lawmakers resigned en masse from parliament Sunday, deepening the political deadlock.

Yingluck, the sister of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, announced in a televised national address Monday that she would dissolve the lower house and hold a general election "as soon as possible".

But the leaders of the anti-government movement said they were not satisfied and pledged to rid Thailand of the influence of Thaksin, a tycoon-turned-premier who was ousted by royalist generals in a coup seven years ago and now lives in self-exile in Dubai.

The upcoming election is expected to be held on or around February 2.

The political conflict broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and royalist elite backed by the military (Yellow Shirts) against rural and working-class voters loyal to Thaksin (Red Shirts).

Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election in more than a decade while the opposition Democrat Party has not won an elected majority in about two decades.