Thai stability hangs in the balance

After months of anti-government demonstrations by thousands of protesters in the Thai capital Bangkok, the future of the country is still uncertain.

Trouble began last November when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attempted to grant amnesty to her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is currently hiding out in Dubai to avoid corruption charges.

Since then, demonstrations became more frequent and more intense. Eventually, Yingluck called for elections to be held in February.

But opposition members and supporters say they will boycott the poll- which Yingluck would likely win. They are calling for Yingluck to step down and for a complete overhaul of the electoral process.

Political analysts say an election might actually benefit the opposition.

(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) CHAIWAT SATHA-ANAND, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY, SAYING:

"If they push through with the election, what will happen is that we will have a new gove