BANGKOK: The Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee is likely to cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points for a second straight meeting on Wednesday to help the economy cope with prolonged political unrest, a Reuters poll showed.

Anti-government protests in Bangkok, which have entered their third month, have hurt confidence and tourism as well as delayed public investment spending. There is no resolution to the crisis in sight but more violence is expected after several were wounded in explosions in the capital.

At its last meeting in November, the central bank unexpectedly cut the policy rate 25 basis points to 2.25 percent. The committee said it saw higher risks to growth because of the political crisis.

The central bank recently said economic growth this year could be lower than its 4 percent forecast. Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong said last week the pace might be only 3 percent because of the unrest.