Thai 'Red Shirts' cancel pro-government rally

BANGKOK - Thailand's pro-government "Red Shirts" have decided to cancel a massive rally planned in Bangkok' s neighboring province of Ayutthaya on December 10.  

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), or the "Red Shirts," made the decision after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced in the morning the dissolution of the House of Representatives.  

"Red Shirts" members are divided on the dissolution, with some being supportive and others considering it too soon, a UDD leader was quoted by local media as saying.

The Pheu Thai Party said in a statement that Yingluck had made the right decision to dissolve the House to avoid injuries and loss of lives.

The statement also urged the Democrats and other parties to run in the coming general election, which is expected to be held in early February.

The government has proposed holding the new election on February 2, according to government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi.

But the Election Commission (EC) has yet to approve the date.

The commission will wait for the king's approval of the House dissolution before deciding on the election date, according to EC member Prapun Naigowit.