Thai protesters march to oust Yingluck govt

Anti-government protesters resumed marches in Bangkok yesterday, trying to energise supporters in the centre of the Thai capital before a planned mass rally at the weekend to put pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.
Yingluck called a snap election last week when the protests reached their height. She remains caretaker premier until the February 2 vote but has refused to push back the date to allow the drawing-up of political reforms demanded by the protesters.
About 160,000 protesters surrounded Yingluck's office on December 9 but momentum has waned since then.
The National Security Council said there were about 3,000 people at yesterday's march, about half the size of the crowd when the latest round of marches kicked off on Thursday.
The Election Commission (EC) dismissed suggestions it would postpone the vote.
"We are ready to hold elections on February 2 ," said commission member Teerawat Terarotwit, following a meeting between Yingluck and EC members.
The commission had earlier expressed concern over the possibility of unrest at the polls and said it could delay them if all parties agreed.
The government says voting will go ahead as planned.