Violence grips Thai capital on eve of general elections

Gunfire rang out at a major intersection in Thailand's capital on Saturday as clashes between opponents and supporters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra erupted on the eve of tense nationwide elections. At least seven people were wounded, including an American photojournalist.

The confrontation began after a group of pro-government supporters marched to a district office in northern Bangkok containing ballot boxes that had been surrounded by anti-government protesters who have been trying to derail the vote.

The two sides clashed first with rocks and firecrackers, then with pistols and assault rifles. One group of men carrying huge sticks smashed the windshield of a car carrying protesters that sped away. People caught up in the mayhem took refuge inside a nearby shopping mall and ducked on a pedestrian bridge. Some crouched behind vehicles.

According to the city's emergency services, at least six Thais were wounded, including a reporter for the local Daily News newspaper. An American photojournalist, James Nachtwey, was shot in the leg, according to the Associated Press.

The attacks on Saturday came a day before Thailand holds a general election, which opponents of the prime minister have vowed to boycott and disrupt.

"Authorities were able to control today's clashes quickly and the situation has improved now," National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattantabutr told Reuters.

Ten people have died and at least 577 have been wounded in political violence since late November, according to the Erawan Medical Center, which monitors Bangkok hospitals.

Anti-government protesters took to the streets in November in the latest round of an eight-year conflict between Bangkok's middle class, southern Thais and the royalist establishment against the mostly poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by a protest movement in 2006.

The protesters, a minority that cannot win power at the polls, are demanding the government be replaced by an unelected council that would implement political and electoral reforms to combat what they allege are problems of corruption and money politics. Yingluck has refused to step down, arguing she is open to reform and such a council would be unconstitutional.

The crisis has almost completely overshadowed campaigning. Instead of stump speeches and electrified rallies for candidates hoping to take office, Thailand's muted capital has been gripped by a palpable sense of dread and uncertainty over whether demonstrators will physically block voters from getting inside polling centers.

Suthep Thaugsuban, a former government minister who leads the protests against Yingluck's party, had earlier called for a peaceful blockade of roads to disrupt the election, but has also vowed not to stop people from voting.

"The people will not close the polling booths, but will demonstrate on the roads. They will demonstrate calmly, peacefully, without violence. We won't do anything that will hinder people from going to vote," Suthep said on Friday.

"In the south, for those who are surrounding the places where ballots are being collected, I ask that you sit there peacefully. Don't back down. I believe that this poll will be voided for sure."

The Nation newspaper said protesters were camping at post offices to block the delivery of ballot papers in the south, where support for Suthep is strongest.

Suthep, who wants to rid the country of the Shinawatra family's political influence, accuses Yingluck, who swept to power in the last election in 2011, of being Thaksin's puppet.

Thaksin or his allies have won every election since 2001. His supporters say he was the first Thai political leader to keep campaign promises to help the poor. However, his opponents accuse him of widespread corruption.

Suthep wants to set up a "people's council" of notable individuals before another election is held.

Pro-government supporters were also holding rallies on Saturday. Reporting from Bangkok, Al Jazeera's Veronica Pedrosa said that some people were viewing the tensions as "pro-election versus anti-election" rather than opposition and pro-government.

"We want to protect Thailand's democratic system. We won't let those anti-election people disrupt those who want to vote. They shouldn't be deprived from voting," said Yodsawarid Chuklom, a leading Yingluck supporter.

Although unrest already hit Bangkok and polling stations may not open in some parts of the south if ballot materials don't arrive in time, voting is expected to proceed smoothly on Sunday in most of the country.

Police said they will deploy 100,000 officers nationwide, while the army is putting 5,000 soldiers in Bangkok to boost security. More than 47 million people are registered to vote.

The prolonged unrest has hurt tourism and the central bank says the economy may grow only 3 percent this year, rather than the 4 percent it had forecast.

Al Jazeera and wire services