Amid protests, Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolves parliament
An anti-government protester blows a whistle in front of Thai flags during a rally at Bangkok's Democracy Monument on Friday, one day after the embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra survived a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Anti-government protesters occupied the army headquarters on November 29, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand, despite calls from the country's prime minister for protesters to cease their sustained demonstrations and negotiate an end to the nation's latest crisis.
Anti-government protesters occupied the army headquarters on November 29, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand, despite calls from the country's prime minister for protesters to cease their sustained demonstrations and negotiate an end to the nation's latest crisis.
Opposition protesters in Bangkok say they plan to march towards the headquarters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's ruling party on Friday, as they continue their campaign to overthrow her.
Opposition protesters in Bangkok say they plan to march towards the headquarters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's ruling party on Friday, as they continue their campaign to overthrow her.
Anti-government protesters blow whistles as they rally at the Department Special Investigation in Bangkok on November 27, 2013.
Anti-government protesters blow whistles as they rally at the Department Special Investigation in Bangkok on November 27, 2013.
Flag-waving protesters vowing to topple the Thai prime minister took to the streets of Bangkok for a fourth day Wednesday, declaring they would take over "every ministry" of the government.
Flag-waving protesters vowing to topple the Thai prime minister took to the streets of Bangkok for a fourth day Wednesday, declaring they would take over "every ministry" of the government.
A Thai riot policeman holds flowers which were offered to him by opposition protesters during a rally at a government complex in Bangkok on November 27, 2013.
A Thai riot policeman holds flowers which were offered to him by opposition protesters during a rally at a government complex in Bangkok on November 27, 2013.
Thousands of anti-government protesters occupy the Finance ministry for a third day in a bid to oust the current government of Yingluck Shinawatra on November 27, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thousands of anti-government protesters occupy the Finance ministry for a third day in a bid to oust the current government of Yingluck Shinawatra on November 27, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thailand's mass political protests spread outside the capital on Wednesday as opposition demonstrators stepped up their attempts to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government, plunging the country deeper into crisis.
Thailand's mass political protests spread outside the capital on Wednesday as opposition demonstrators stepped up their attempts to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government, plunging the country deeper into crisis.
Anti-government protesters demonstrate outside the Ministry of Interior in a bid to oust the current government of Yingluck Shinawatra November 26, 2013 in Bangkok,Thailand.
Anti-government protesters demonstrate outside the Ministry of Interior in a bid to oust the current government of Yingluck Shinawatra November 26, 2013 in Bangkok,Thailand.
Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appealed for an end to 'mob rule' on November 26 as she prepared to face a no-confidence debate in parliament.
Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appealed for an end to 'mob rule' on November 26 as she prepared to face a no-confidence debate in parliament.
Thai riot police stand guard in Bangkok on Monday in an escalation of mass street rallies aiming to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's embattled government.
Thai riot police stand guard in Bangkok on Monday in an escalation of mass street rallies aiming to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's embattled government.
Demonstrators wave national flags during a rally in Bangkok on November 25, 2013.
Demonstrators wave national flags during a rally in Bangkok on November 25, 2013.
A Thai opposition protester waves a clapper during a rally at Bangkok's Democracy Monument Sunday.
A Thai opposition protester waves a clapper during a rally at Bangkok's Democracy Monument Sunday.
Tens of thousands of pro- and anti-government demonstrators massed in rival rallies in Bangkok on Sunday, as Thailand grappled with its most potent revival of street politics since bloody protests in 2010.
Tens of thousands of pro- and anti-government demonstrators massed in rival rallies in Bangkok on Sunday, as Thailand grappled with its most potent revival of street politics since bloody protests in 2010.
Anti-government protesters are calling for Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down, claiming she is a stooge for her brother, the exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Anti-government protesters are calling for Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down, claiming she is a stooge for her brother, the exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thai pro-government 'red shirts' gathered at a football stadium to counter the growing anti-government protests and to show support for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's crisis-hit administration.
Thai pro-government 'red shirts' gathered at a football stadium to counter the growing anti-government protests and to show support for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's crisis-hit administration.
Thai opposition leaders Suthep Thaugsuban, center, and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, left, clinch their fists as they appear on stage during a rally at Democracy Monument in Bangkok Sunday
Thai opposition leaders Suthep Thaugsuban, center, and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, left, clinch their fists as they appear on stage during a rally at Democracy Monument in Bangkok Sunday
Thai pro-government 'red shirts' hold pictures of Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra as she gather at Rajamangala Stadium in Bankok Sunday.
Thai pro-government 'red shirts' hold pictures of Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra as she gather at Rajamangala Stadium in Bankok Sunday.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva waves to anti-government protesters Sunday.
Anti-government protesters ripple a giant Thai fla
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva waves to anti-government protesters Sunday.
Anti-government protesters ripple a giant Thai fla
A Thai opposition protester holds up a placard mocking exiled former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin has a strong support base among Thailand's rural and working class, but is detested among the elite and middle classes, who accuse him of corrup
A Thai opposition protester holds up a placard mocking exiled former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin has a strong support base among Thailand's rural and working class, but is detested among the elite and middle classes, who accuse him of corrup
After weeks of large anti-government demonstrations in the capital, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the nation's parliament Monday and called for new elections.
"I don't want our country and the Thai people to suffer from more losses," Yingluck said in a televised address. "I have decided to dissolve the house."
Her announcement came as protesters began marching toward her office, known as Government House, in the latest effort to put pressure on her administration.
A day earlier, Thailand's main opposition party said its roughly 150 members would resign en masse from parliament because they could no longer work with the government.
"This government is no longer justified to run the country, as this house is no longer justified. Today we resign to express that stance," opposition party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said.
Dissolving parliament and calling elections appear unlikely to placate protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister for the Democrat Party. He has called for power to be transferred to an unelected "people's council."
Thaksin's influence
During the weeks of demonstrations, protesters have occupied various government offices. The rallies have been mostly peaceful, but clashes between protesters and government supporters on November 30 left five people dead.
Protesters and police, who had confronted each other with tear gas and rocks in parts of Bangkok last week, agreed to a truce Tuesday in a show of respect for Thailand's revered king, who celebrated his 86th birthday Thursday.
Protest leaders have said they want to rid Thailand of the influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the older brother of Yingluck.
That's an ambitious goal in a country where parties affiliated with Thaksin, who built his political success on populist policies that appealed to Thailand's rural heartland, have won every election since 2001.
Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and has spent most of the time since then in exile overseas. If he returns, he risks a two-year prison sentence on a corruption conviction, which he says was politically motivated.
The current protests in Bangkok were prompted by a botched attempt by Yingluck's government to pass an amnesty bill that would have opened the door for her brother's return.
That move added fuel for critics who accuse Yingluck of being nothing more than Thaksin's puppet, an allegation she has repeatedly denied.
