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Police in Thailand are seeking the arrest of leaders of an
anti-government movement, after violent protests in the capital
Bangkok.
Sunday's clashes broke out after protesters surrounded the home
of a top official they accuse of orchestrating last year's
military coup.
More than 100 people, half of them police, were injured in the
late-night clashes, officials and medics said.
Six people have already been charged over the protests,
according to police.
It was the first violence since the military ousted former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September 2006.
Senior advisor
Since the coup there have been regular protests against military
rule, but until now none has been very big and none violent, says
the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
That changed on Sunday night when police tried to clear several
thousand demonstrators from outside the home of Prem
Tinsulanonda.
Mr Prem, 86, is the most senior advisor to the Thai king and,
our correspondent says, arguably among the most powerful people in
the country.
The protesters accuse him of a playing a key role in planning
last year's bloodless coup.
Demonstrators threw rocks and bottles as police moved in to
disperse them, and police responded with teargas and water canons.
Dozens of people were injured on both sides.
Six people have been charged with disturbing the peace and
injuring police officers, and police say they are now seeking
arrest warrants for eight leaders of the group that organised the
protests.
Constitution campaign
Mr Prem enjoys great respect because of his position in the
palace and his successful stint in government in the 1980s.
So pictures published in the Thai media of protesters throwing
rocks at his house are likely to cost the anti-military movement a
lot of public sympathy, at a time when it has been trying to rally
opposition to the new constitution, our correspondent says.
A military-appointed commission has completed the new
constitution and a nationwide referendum on the draft is to take
place on 19 August.
If it passes, the Thai military says democratic elections could
be held by the end of the year.
Source:
BBC News
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