Asia-Pacific

Thai court approves arrest of 'red-shirt' leaders

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-09 15:46

Thai court approves arrest of 'red-shirt' leaders
Anti-government protesters on motorcycles lead a march past the Victory monument to Thaicom Teleport and DTH Center during a rally in Pathum Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok April 9, 2010. [Agencies]

BANGKOK -- Thailand's criminal court on Friday approved to issue arrest warrants against three core leaders of anti-government protesters known as "red-shirts" who caused the shutdown of the Rathchaprasong Intersection, a major commercial area in the capital Bangkok.

The three core leaders include Veera Musikapong, Nattawut Saikua and Jatuporn Prompan, Thai News Agency reported.

The latest move followed the criminal court's Thursday approval of issuance of arrest warrants against seven other "red-shirt" leaders, who led the protesters to siege and storm the parliament compound on Wednesday.

The new arrest warrants were delivered as Nattahwut led the " red-shirts" to stage a rally at ThaiCom satellite station in central province of Pathum Thani, demanding the government to reopen the broadcast of red-shirts' People TV satellite channel which has been blocked since Thursday morning.

The "red shirts" also urged the government to withdraw security forces deployed inside the satellite station.