Thai PM dissolves parliament and calls elections

(Vatican Radio) Thailand's Prime Minister has bowed to protestors' demands and dissolved parliament, calling a snap election. However, protests continue in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

In a televised statement, Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra said she has listened to all sides, and has decided to dissolve parliament, triggering new elections in which Thai voters will decide their future. But protest leaders have dismissed the move, saying it falls short of their demands to replace the elected government system with an appointed panel of experts.

On Monday in Bangkok, tens of thousands of demonstrators remained on the streets. The Prime Minister has rejected their demands as unconstitutional and undemocratic. Her party is popular with Thailand's rural poor, while the protestors are largely drawn from Bangkok's middle class. They want to prevent the return to power of the current PM's brother and former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who currently lives in exile, convicted of abuse of office.

On Sunday, the opposition party said the current electoral system in Thailand means it has no say in passing legislation in Thailand. It said its deputies would resign their parliament seats.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn’s report: