After a fortnight of persistent protests aimed at toppling her government, Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the Parliament and chose to call fresh elections.
Speaking in a televised address on Sunday, Shinawatra said that she had decided to "give back the power to the Thai people".
"After listening to opinions from all sides, I have decided to request a royal decree to dissolve Parliament…There will be new elections according to the democratic system," she said.
"Now, when there are many people opposed to the government, the best way is to and hold an election…So the Thai people will decide," she added.
Shinawatra's announcement came after all the opposition MPs resigned on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the anti-government rallies continued with the protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban vowing to continue the fight to "uproot the Thaksin regime".
Also, the anti-government protesters planned to march to the Government House on Monday.
Reacting to the PM's latest moves, the protest leader said that the movement will continue and the Thaksin regime will "go home empty-handed".
"Although the House is dissolved and there will be new elections, the Thaksin regime is still in place," he said.
Suthep's followers have been rallying for more than a couple of weeks now and they have been occupying the Finance Ministry and other key government headquarters.
The protest that started last month grew violent when the stone-pelting protesters tried to barge into the government house and were treated to tear gas and water cannon firing from the police.
The protesters had decided to halt the demonstrations last week in wake of the 86th birthday of their revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
However, the peaceful episode in Thailand did not last long with the protesters coming back to rally.
Five people have died in the protests and the demonstrations are said to be the biggest since that of 2010 when 90 people had been killed.
The protesters allege that the current government is being run as a puppet regime by PM's brother Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now in a self-imposed exile, was ousted in 2006 in a coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power.
Speaking in a televised address on Sunday, Shinawatra said that she had decided to "give back the power to the Thai people".
"After listening to opinions from all sides, I have decided to request a royal decree to dissolve Parliament…There will be new elections according to the democratic system," she said.
"Now, when there are many people opposed to the government, the best way is to and hold an election…So the Thai people will decide," she added.
Shinawatra's announcement came after all the opposition MPs resigned on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the anti-government rallies continued with the protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban vowing to continue the fight to "uproot the Thaksin regime".
Also, the anti-government protesters planned to march to the Government House on Monday.
Reacting to the PM's latest moves, the protest leader said that the movement will continue and the Thaksin regime will "go home empty-handed".
"Although the House is dissolved and there will be new elections, the Thaksin regime is still in place," he said.
Suthep's followers have been rallying for more than a couple of weeks now and they have been occupying the Finance Ministry and other key government headquarters.
The protest that started last month grew violent when the stone-pelting protesters tried to barge into the government house and were treated to tear gas and water cannon firing from the police.
The protesters had decided to halt the demonstrations last week in wake of the 86th birthday of their revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
However, the peaceful episode in Thailand did not last long with the protesters coming back to rally.
Five people have died in the protests and the demonstrations are said to be the biggest since that of 2010 when 90 people had been killed.
The protesters allege that the current government is being run as a puppet regime by PM's brother Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now in a self-imposed exile, was ousted in 2006 in a coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power.
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