BANGKOK - Thai soldiers have been deployed at various sites in Bangkok to protect anti-government protesters who have started marching since early Monday morning to shut down the capital, army spokesman Winthai Suwari said.

These soldiers are also obliged to maintain law and order, Winthai was quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying Monday.

Army units have also been deployed to look out for people and protect them from being harmed, Winthai said.

The shutdown has so far affected over 2 million people in the capital.

Thousands of medical workers have joined the operation, demanding political reform ?before a general election.

The military will not interfere with the political process, Winthai said, referring to the Election Commission's proposal that the election be postponed from Jan 2 to May 4.

A hundred Thais living in New York reportedly rallied at Time Square earlier to show support for the shutdown operation.