Thais block election registration

Hundreds of protesters in Bangkok have surrounded a stadium, used as the election registration place, to block political parties from registering for Thailand’s general election of February.

The demonstrators gathered outside the stadium, where candidates are scheduled to file nominations, on Monday.

Reports say political parties are now registering at a police station instead.

Election Commission official Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said nine parties have managed to enter although members were unable to complete registration.

The official said about two dozen parties filed complaints with the police because they were prevented from entering the registration area.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced the elections last month in a bid to calm the situation, but the demonstrators say political reforms are needed before any elections are held.

The main opposition Democrat Party has also declared a boycott of snap polls.

National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut has said that at least 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok on Sunday, calling on the government to step down.

Protests in Bangkok began on October 31, when the government proposed an amnesty bill that would have cleared Thaksin Shinawatra, brother to the current prime minister, of graft convictions and paved the way for his return to the country.

Thaksin is said to be the power behind the current government and has been in self-imposed exile since 2006, when he was ousted in a military coup. He faces a jail term over his convictions if he returns.

On November 11, the upper house of the Thai parliament rejected the controversial bill amid growing outrage on the streets.