Anti-government protests resume in Thailand

After a brief lull, anti-government protesters in Thailand today resumed their campaign calling for the removal of Premier Yingluck Shinawatra while the election commission again warned of possible unrest ahead of upcoming snap polls.
Chief opposition leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister backed by the Democrat Party, warned of major protest demonstrations across Bangkok on Sunday. He has said the protest would continue unless Yingluck stepped down.
More than 2,000 people joined the protest today.
Protest leaders are demanding that Yingluck, who remains caretaker prime minister, step down before any polls take place to pave the way for pre-election reforms.

Yesterday, the Election Commission said it could postpone the February 2 snap elections if the political parties agree and today warned of potential unrest during the polls.
"The EC expects the election on February 2 will cause unrest, so holding the poll on that date is not appropriate," said EC commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, adding that officials would organise the vote if parties "insist" on going ahead.

Yingluck has said that she would continue to be the caretaker premier as she had occupied the office after winning general elections in 2011.
She dissolved parliament last week and called for snap polls on February 2 saying she will step down if she loses.

But the protesters say it would only usher in another government backed by controversial former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother.
Thaksin, the former billionaire tycoon ousted in a 2006 coup, is seen as corrupt and has been accused of buying his popularity, allowing him and his allies to win every election for over a decade.