Thai court rules general election invalid

The snap poll was called by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra amid major anti-government protests in Bangkok, BBC reports.

The ruling party was expected to win, but the opposition boycotted it and protesters disrupted voting, meaning the election has not been completed.

The vote was unconstitutional because it did not take place on the same day across the country, the court said. Polls were not held in a number of constituencies because protesters had blocked candidate registration.

The court, which ruled to void the election by six votes to three, was responding to a motion by a law lecturer who had challenged the election on a number of points.

It is not clear when a new election will be held.

Thailand has been hit by anti-government protests since November 2013.

The protesters, who are mainly urban and middle class, want Ms Yingluck's government replaced by an unelected "people's council".

They allege her brother, ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, controls her administration and say Shinawatra family money has corrupted Thai politics.

Ms Yingluck and her ruling Pheu Thai party remain very popular in rural areas, however, leaving Thailand deeply polarised.

The South East Asian nation has been embroiled in a cycle of political unrest since the military removed Mr Thaksin from office in a 2006 coup.