Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Thailand’s capital Sunday, some surrounding the home of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whom they want to oust.
An estimated 90,000 protesters were marching in Bangkok, Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut, Thailand’s national security chief, told CNN. He said that number rose to 150,000 at the peak of the rally in the late afternoon.
He earlier said 10,000 had surrounded the premier’s home while she tours the northeast provinces. The demonstration there was later disbanded.
In a bid to cool tensions, Shinawatra dissolved the nation’s parliament earlier this month and called for new elections, to be held on February 2.
But the move has done little to appease anti-government protesters, who remained on the streets by the thousands.
The main opposition party, the Democrat Party, has said it will boycott the polls.
During the weeks of demonstrations, protesters have occupied various government offices. The rallies have been mostly peaceful, but there have also been deadly clashes between protesters and government supporters.
