The Thai Criminal Court on Monday issued an arrest warrant for protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on rebellion charges.

Police intermittently fired tear gas toward the crowds. -- File photos

Suthep has allegedly orchestrated thousands of anti-government protesters who have invaded and occupied varied government premises, using force and weapons as well as making threats against government personnel guarding the premises.

As head of the so-called People's Democratic Reform Committee, Suthep was held responsible for street unrests in the Thai capital and its suburban areas since the past week.

The arrest warrant was issued Monday evening for rebellion charges which refer to his perpetrating unconstitutional acts and instigating unrests among members of the public.

Another arrest warrant was earlier issued for Suthep for organizing last week's occupation of the compounds of the finance ministry and the budget bureau in Payathai area.

Despite the warrants, the former Thai deputy premier met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra twice over the past two days and left without being arrested.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for four leaders of the so-called Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand on charges of invading and damaging property of the foreign ministry.

Directed by Suthep and those persons, anti-government protesters have struggled to break concrete barricades and cut barbed wires in bid to invade and occupy the Government House and the metropolitan police headquarters after they seized several government premises, including a complex of government units as well as state-run telecommunication and telephone agencies in Bangkok's northern outskirts.

Police intermittently fired tear gas toward the crowds who hurled plastic bombs, giant firecrackers and rocks at them.

Protest leader meets Yingluck, delivers two-day ultimatum

The leader of Thailand’s anti-government protests, Suthep Thaugsuban, says he has had face-to-face talks with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. He says he issued a two-day ultimatum that her administration step down in favor of an appointed council.

In a speech to supporters at one of the protest encampments, Suthep said the meeting was held under the protection of the military, which says it is neutral in the conflict.

He did not immediately specify what action would follow if his demands were not met. There has been no announcement from the government about the claimed talks.

The prime minister did not appear in public Sunday, but her aides said she is in a safe place. The protesters had dubbed Sunday "victory day" but they failed to attain their main stated goal of taking over the prime minister’s offices, despite engaging in pitched street battles with police. (Source: CNTV.cn)

Source: Xinhuanet