Bangkok ( CNN ) -- Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Thailand 's capital Sunday , some surrounding the home of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra , whom they want to oust . An estimated 90,000 protesters were marching in Bangkok , Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut , Thailand 's national security chief , told CNN . He said that number rose to 150,000 at the peak of the rally in the late afternoon . He earlier said 10,000 had surrounded the premier 's home while she tours the northeast provinces . The demonstration there was later disbanded . In a bid to cool tensions , Shinawatra dissolved the nation 's parliament earlier this month and called for new elections , to be held on February 2 . But the move has done little to appease anti-government protesters , who remained on the streets by the thousands . The main opposition party , the Democrat Party , has said it will boycott the polls . Speaking on one of the main stages set up at the rally , protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban asked demonstrators to surround a sports complex where candidates seeking to put themselves forward for the election will have to register their names . Candidates have from Monday to Friday to do so . Security beefed up . Security at the complex was being stepped up ahead of the start of registration , Paradon said , but he could not give figures . During the weeks of demonstrations , protesters have occupied various government offices . The rallies have been mostly peaceful , but there have also been deadly clashes between protesters and government supporters . Protest leaders have said they want to rid Thailand of the influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra , the older brother of Yingluck . That 's an ambitious goal in a country where every election since 2001 has been won by parties affiliated with Thaksin , who built his political success on populist policies that appealed to Thailand 's rural heartland . Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and has spent most of the time since then in exile overseas . If he returns , he risks a two-year prison sentence on a corruption conviction , which he says was politically motivated . The current protests in Bangkok were prompted by a botched attempt by Yingluck Shinawatra 's government to pass an amnesty bill that would have opened the door for her brother 's return . That move added fuel for critics who accuse her of being nothing more than her brother 's puppet , an allegation she has repeatedly denied . CNN 's Marie-Louise Gumuchian contributed to this report .
NEW : Opposition party calls for demonstration at site where opposition candidates will run . Protesters surrounded the residence of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra . PM has called for February 2 elections , main opposition party says it will boycott . Protesters have occupied various government offices in the last few weeks .