Bangkok Shutdown: Anti-government protesters bring Thai city to a standstill

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators were continuing to bring central Bangkok to a standstill today with barricades at major roads.

Protesters included unions, Bangkok’s urban middle class, bikers and even ladyboys.

The campaign of sit-ins and road blocks began in November.

They want to replace the government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra with an unelected “People’s Council” before elections are held on February 2.

They allege Ms Yingluck is a proxy for her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in 2006 after being found guilty of corruption.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said: “We are here until the government goes completely and we have political reform.”