Thai polls in doubt after scores banned

BANGKOK – Next month’s general election in Thailand was thrown into doubt after hundreds of candidates were banned yesterday and the country’s embattled premier said he would consider stepping aside temporarily.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called the April 2 poll early in hopes of ending weeks of political turmoil that have seen mass protests in the streets calling for his resignation. But after a boycott left nearly one-third of the candidates for parliament running unopposed, an election commission official said that about the same number had also been barred from standing.The official told AFP that around 326 of the 941 candidates would not be allowed, most because they had not belonged to their parties for at least 90 days before election day, as mandated by Thai law.- Nampa-AFPBut after a boycott left nearly one-third of the candidates for parliament running unopposed, an election commission official said that about the same number had also been barred from standing.The official told AFP that around 326 of the 941 candidates would not be allowed, most because they had not belonged to their parties for at least 90 days before election day, as mandated by Thai law.- Nampa-AFP