Voting in Thailand’s general election has passed off without any major violence.
That is despite armed clashes between supporters and opponents of embattled prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra on the eve of the poll.
But voting was disrupted in nearly a fifth of all constituencies.
“There are 93,952 polling stations nationwide, 83,813 held the vote. It amounts to 89.2 percent of all the polling stations,” said Supachai Somchareon, Chairman of Thailand’s Election Commissioners.
Some protesters formed blockades at polling stations in a bid to stop voters, while others blocked the delivery of election materials. Elsewhere, officials failed to turn up.
With results not expected for several weeks, Yingluck Shinawatra will remain caretaker premier – facing continued anti-government protests and the prospect of legal challenges aimed at invalidating the vote.
Shinatwra’s opponents want an unelected interim government to take control – bringing in reforms to fight corruption.
