Thais start voting in crucial general election

LONDON. July 3. KAZINFORM Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrats face a tough battle against the Pheu Thai party, which is allied to ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and led by his sister, Yingluck.

According to BBC News, Thailand has endured six years of often bloody political protests and there is tight security for the vote nationwide.

About 170,000 police officers have been deployed outside polling stations.

Last year, protesters shut down parts of Bangkok for two months in a bid to force the government to resign. When the army stepped in to clear the capital's streets it degenerated into violence, leaving 91 people dead.

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