Thailand's main opposition party boycotts elections

Thailand's main opposition Democrat Party has announced it will boycott snap elections set for 2 February.

Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told a news conference it would not be fielding candidates, saying: "Thai politics is at a failed stage".

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called the election earlier this month in a bid to end weeks of mass protests.

The head of the Thai army has warned the country's political divisions could "trigger a civil war".

Jonathan Head reports.