Thai government to ask army to secure election
The government of Yingluck Shinawatra asks Thailand's army to provide security during the poll, a day after rejecting opposition calls to postpone February elections
Thailand’s government on Friday said it would ask the army to provide security for February elections after violent clashes between police and opposition protesters left two people dead and more than 150 wounded.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government on Thursday rejected a call by the kingdom’s election commission to postpone the vote, after a policeman was shot dead during political violence in the capital.
A 30-year-old civilian who was struck by a bullet in the chest during the unrest also died in hospital early on Friday, according to the public health ministry.
It said 153 people were injured, of whom 38 were still hospitalised.
Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he would ask the armed forces supreme commander for help with security for a second round of registration for constituency candidates due to begin around the country on Saturday.
“I will also ask the military to provide security protection for members of the public on the February 2 election date,” he said in a nationally televised address.