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| Thai PM Yingluck to dissolve parliament and call elections | Thai PM Yingluck to dissolve parliament and call elections |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says she will dissolve parliament and call an election, after sustained protests in the capital, Bangkok. | Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says she will dissolve parliament and call an election, after sustained protests in the capital, Bangkok. |
| The move followed the resignation of all opposition MPs from parliament on Sunday, and a planned march on Government House on Monday. | |
| Ms Yingluck won elections in 2011. | Ms Yingluck won elections in 2011. |
| However the protesters allege her government is controlled by ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and have vowed to continue the demonstrations. | |
| The announcement came as Ms Yingluck addressed the nation on television. | The announcement came as Ms Yingluck addressed the nation on television. |
| "At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election," she said. "So the Thai people will decide." | "At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election," she said. "So the Thai people will decide." |
| No date was given for the polls but Ms Yingluck said they would be held "as soon as possible". | No date was given for the polls but Ms Yingluck said they would be held "as soon as possible". |
| Correspondents say that elections are expected within the next 60 days. | Correspondents say that elections are expected within the next 60 days. |
| 'Thaksin regime' | 'Thaksin regime' |
| Ms Yingluck's party draws considerable support from mainly poor and rural areas of Thailand and would be seen as well-placed to win an election. | Ms Yingluck's party draws considerable support from mainly poor and rural areas of Thailand and would be seen as well-placed to win an election. |
| Anti-government protesters, who have been calling for her government to be replaced with an unelected "people's council", say the rallies will continue. | Anti-government protesters, who have been calling for her government to be replaced with an unelected "people's council", say the rallies will continue. |
| Protester leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who was formerly a senior opposition politician, said: "The movement will keep on fighting. Our goal is to uproot the Thaksin regime." | Protester leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who was formerly a senior opposition politician, said: "The movement will keep on fighting. Our goal is to uproot the Thaksin regime." |
| "Although the House is dissolved and there will be new elections, the Thaksin regime is still in place," he added. | "Although the House is dissolved and there will be new elections, the Thaksin regime is still in place," he added. |
| Former PM Mr Thaksin is in self-imposed exile after he was overthrown in a military army coup in 2006 and convicted of corruption. However, he is still considered influential in Thai politics. | Former PM Mr Thaksin is in self-imposed exile after he was overthrown in a military army coup in 2006 and convicted of corruption. However, he is still considered influential in Thai politics. |
| More than 60 schools in Bangkok were closed as a precaution against the planned demonstrations at Government House, AP news agency reported. | More than 60 schools in Bangkok were closed as a precaution against the planned demonstrations at Government House, AP news agency reported. |