Political paralysis looms after Thai polls

[BANGKOK] Controversial elections in Thailand passed peacefully yesterday, but the country was no nearer to ending its intractable political conflict, with the government facing the prospect of months of paralysis, protests and complex legal challenges which could further rattle the already battered baht and the stock market.

Voting was disrupted in about a fifth of the country's constituencies, but no major violence was reported, despite armed clashes between supporters and opponents of embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that wounded seven people on the eve of the ballot.

No results were to be announced yesterday, meaning little change to an uneasy status quo. Ms Ying-luck will remain caretaker premier for weeks, facing continued anti-government protests and the prospect of a slew of legal challenges aimed at invalidating the poll.