More than 100,000 protesters at anti-govt rally

More than 100,000 people participated in an anti-government rally around the Government House here Monday, although just over an hour before it started this morning, Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

It was also announced this evening that King Bhumibol Adulyadej approved the dissolution of the House and election would be held on Feb 2.

Earlier today, groups of people moving towards the Government House stretched to between one and two kilometre long, causing the traffic to stop, and whenever they saw security personnel, the protesters blew their whistles as loud as possible and waved Thailand's flags.

Overall, the situation was peaceful and there was no tear gas while the protesters made no attempt to occupy the Government House.

According to Government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi, Feb 2 was the last date to hold an election, following the dissolution of the House of Representatives, Monday.

He told Bernama that the current government under Yingluck would remain until after the election.

The dissolution was the only alternative for Yingluck to maintain peace after the opposition Democrat Party announced its 152 members of parliament had resigned en mass.

The anti-government group appears to downplay the significance of the dissolution of the House of Representatives when Yingluck first announced it.

This afternoon, protest leader Suthep Thuegsuban announced they would remain in front of the Government House overnight and would sleep on the streets.

He said they should congratulate themselves for their success in reclaiming the government.

Meanwhile, the pro-government Red Shirt supporters have postponed a plan to hold a rally in Ayuthaya, about 76km from here on Tuesday.