Protesters in Thailand have surrounded polling stations,
blocking early voting ahead of next week's general election,
officials say.
One of their leaders has been shot dead during a clash with
government supporters just outside the capital, Bangkok.
Advance voting has reportedly been cancelled in a number
of locations.
Anti-government activists want PM Yingluck Shinawatra to
step down and the political system to be reformed.
Suthin Taratin was speaking on top of a truck, which was
part of a rally at a polling station where advanced voting
was supposed to take place, when he was struck by gunfire,
reports the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
He died later in hospital.
Crowds of flag-waving demonstrators chained the doors of
polling stations shut, despite promises by protest leaders
not to obstruct the polls.
The protesters surrounded polling stations in Bangkok and
southern Thailand in an attempt to stop people voting.
Voting was either blocked completely or halted at 48 out of
50 polling stations in Bangkok.
The country's election commission has called for the
general vote scheduled for 2 February to be postponed
because of possible disruption and violence.
But the government has so far insisted that the election
must go ahead on schedule.
The latest disturbances comes despite a pledge from
protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who said on Saturday
that his supporters would not obstruct advance voting -
although they would demonstrate outside polling stations.
The protest movement says it is not obstructing the poll, but
that "supporters are simply protesting the advance polls
held today by surrounding/standing in front of election
units", in a statement on its Facebook page.
Advance voting is for those unable to take part in the
February election.
A state of emergency is in place as the authorities struggle
to cope with the unrest.
Protesters, who started their campaign in November, want
to install an unelected "people's council" to run the country
until the political system is changed.
They say Ms Yingluck's government is being influenced by
her brother, exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
At least nine people have died since the wave of protests
started last year.
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