More Than 150 Thai Election Candidates Seek Police Protection

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Thai election candidates seek police protection

BANGKOK, May 31, 2011 (AFP) - More than 150 candidates in Thailand's general election have sought police protection, officials said Tuesday, reflecting fears the hard-fought campaign will bring fresh violence.

Police have assigned two police officers each to 151 ruling party and opposition politicians to guard them around the clock ahead of the July 3 poll, said Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen.

The vote will be the first since Thailand was rocked by its deadliest political violence in decades last year, when more than 90 people died in a series of street clashes between armed police and opposition protesters.

Last week police said they were seeking the 75 "most wanted" professional killers in Thailand, announcing a bounty of up to 100,000 baht ($3,300) each, in an attempt to boost security ahead of the election.

An opposition politician was shot and wounded in early April in what the authorities said appeared to be a politically motivated attack.

The upcoming vote is shaping up to be a close fight pitting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's establishment-backed Democrats against allies of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

Thaksin's youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is the main opposition Puea Thai party's candidate for premier.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-05-31