Anti-govt protests continue in Bangkok

Thai anti-government protesters wave their national flag in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo / AP

Thousands of anti-government protesters have surrounded a Bangkok electoral office to block political parties from registering for the February 2 national polls, but failed to stop 35 parties from being declared eligible.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban had urged tens of thousands of his followers to march on a sports complex in northern Bangkok to disrupt the registration process.

But the demonstrators did not reach the site early enough on Monday to prevent nine parties, including the ruling Pheu Thai Party of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, according to Election Commission deputy secretary general Somsak Suriyamongkol, the Bangkok Post online reported.

The commission advised the 26 parties that had been blocked from the site to complain at a nearby police station and effectively register there.

Somsak said 35 parties are considered eligible to contest the polls as they registered their complaints before the deadline, the Bangkok Post reported.

An estimated 600 protesters had gathered outside the police station, witnesses said.

On Sunday, more than 150,000 protesters spread throughout Bangkok in an effort to force Yingluck and her cabinet to resign, and allow an appointed "people's council" to set up an interim government and legislate reforms prior to new elections.

Tens of thousands of protesters occupied key intersections in the capital, paralysing traffic.

The opposition Democrat Party, of which Suthep was an executive member and parliamentarian before he began leading the street protests, is boycotting the election.

- DPA