Thai election commission says it will support February poll

Thailand's Election Commission on Friday said it would support nationwide polls on February 2, a day after the government rejected its call to postpone the vote amid clashes and street protests, according to dpa. "This is our duty," Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen told a press conference. "We will do our best to hold a free, fair and transparent election." The commission on Thursday called for the polls to be postponed, saying it could not guarantee safety amid anti-government street protests in the capital since November. A police officer was shot dead Thursday when protesters tried to storm a sports stadium where election registration was taking place. At least 143 protesters, journalists and policemen were injured in the clashes, The Nation daily reported. Anti-government protesters have vowed to sabotage the polls, which the opposition Democrat Party is boycotting.