ASIA: Thai police issue warrants for 14 including former PM
14 Apr 2009 10:21 PM
BANGKOK, April 14 AP - A Bangkok court has issued arrest warrants for 14 protest leaders, including deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in exile.
Metropolitan police spokesman Suporn Pansua said the arrest warrants issued on Tuesday charge them with inciting a public disturbance and illegal assembly.
Demonstrations that plunged the Thai capital into chaos were called off earlier on Tuesday by protest leaders. But not before rioting and clashes left two dead and more than 120 injured. Several leaders are already in police custody.
Thaksin fled the country last year before a court convicted him in absentia of violating a conflict of interest law. He addressed the crowd of protesters via video nearly every evening since the latest round of protests began on March 26.
