DHAKA: A man identified by police as one of the leaders of anti-government protests in Thailand was shot dead on Sunday when violence erupted as demonstrators in Bangkok tried to block early voting for an election next week.

Piya Utayo, a spokesman for Thailand’s national police, identified the dead man as Suthin Taratin, reports The Straits Times.

‘At least five other people were injured,’ he said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called elections for February 2 in an attempt to defuse protests that have dragged on since November and which have flared occasionally into violence.

BDST: 1533 HRS, JAN 26, 2014