By Viparat Jantraprap and Martin Petty BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai stocks and the baht currency tumbled on Thursday as uncertainty deepened about a February election that anti-government forces are determined to block in their bid to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Investors are worried a February 2 poll will not go ahead, leaving Yingluck's government exposed to prolonged attacks by opponents. National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut said on Thursday security agencies were considering declaring a state of emergency after protesters said they would try to "shut down" the capital from January 13. "We may need to call for tougher measures and security agencies have planned for that." The latest bout of political tumult erupted in November after a blunder by the ruling Puea Thai Party, which tried to push through an unpopular amnesty bill that would have annulled the jail sentence of Yingluck's self-exiled brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, the divisive tycoon at the heart of eight years of on-off conflict.
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January 2nd, 2014
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