Thai PM wishes for peace in 2014

Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra speaks during a news conference after a cabinet meeting at an air force base in Bangkok December 25, 2013 in this handout provided by Thai Government House Spokesman Office. [Photo/Agencies]

BANGKOK - Thai caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday wished all Thais to make concerted efforts to bring peace and harmony back to the country in 2014.

In a New Year's message posted on her Facebook account, Yingluck urged people with conflicting political opinions to work together to help the country find a way to peace.

She also pledged to continue working with perseverance and restraint, and try her best to restore harmony for Thailand.

The constituency-based candidate registration for the upcoming February 2 general election is proceeding across the country, yet not smoothly with blockage from anti-government protesters.

Pressure from protesters has prompted local election officials in several provinces to resign.

The constituency registration is expected to last till January 1 while the party-list candidate registration concluded earlier with 45 political parties having their lists submitted.

The anti-government street rally in the capital is taking a pause during the New Year holiday season that runs through January 1, and is expected to come back even stronger after the holiday, according to protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.