(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Anti-government protesters in Thailand surrounded polling stations on Sunday, blocking early voting ahead of next week's general election, officials said.
Crowds of flag-waving demonstrators chained the doors of polling stations shut, despite promises by protest leaders not to obstruct the poll
Advance voting has reportedly been cancelled in a number of locations. Anti-government activists want Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down and the political system to be reforme
The country's election commission has called for the general vote scheduled for February 2 to be postponed because of possible disruption and violenc
But the government has so far insisted that the election must go ahead on schedul
The latest disturbances comes despite a pledge from protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who said on Saturday that his supporters would not obstruct advance voting - although they would demonstrate outside polling station
A state of emergency is in place as the authorities struggle to cope with the unrest
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