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Thailand to prosecute protesters Leader of Thai protests arrested
(about 2 hours later)
Thailand's embattled prime minister has said legal action will be taken against protesters who forced the cancellation of the Asian regional summit. Thai police have arrested the leader of the protests which forced the cancellation of a major Asian summit.
In a televised address, Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the protesters' campaign to unseat him had tipped over into illegality. Arisman Pongruengrong was detained at his home in Bangkok, and charged with inciting protesters to kidnap the prime minister and cause unrest, police said.
He called them enemies of Thailand and again declared he would not quit. Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva has vowed to prosecute the protesters whose campaign he said had tipped into illegality.
The leader of the protesters who forced the summit's cancellation has now been arrested, police say. On Saturday demonstrators calling for his resignation stormed the summit venue in the seaside resort of Pattaya.
Correspondents say the storming by protesters of the summit venue was deeply embarrassing for Mr Abhisit. Mr Arisman, who spearheaded the protests by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was arrested after returning to Bangkok on Sunday.
It raised questions about his government's ability to enforce law and order. A police spokesman said he was co-operating with the authorities .
The summit was scrapped when supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra smashed their way into the conference centre in Pattaya. Abhisit Vejjajiva has suffered a major embarrassment
"There will be further arrests, but right now the police are gathering evidence," the spokesman added.
Correspondents say the storming of the Pattaya conference centre was deeply embarrassing for Mr Abhisit.
There was little resistance from the security forces.There was little resistance from the security forces.
The tactics of the pro-Thaksin activists mirror those of their royalist rivals last year: they too paralysed government activity by targeting key venues.The tactics of the pro-Thaksin activists mirror those of their royalist rivals last year: they too paralysed government activity by targeting key venues.
Officials say months of turmoil have lost the country $6bn in tourist revenue, just as the economy is taking a hit from collapsing exports.Officials say months of turmoil have lost the country $6bn in tourist revenue, just as the economy is taking a hit from collapsing exports.
'We have won''We have won'
"The next three to four days will be crucial for the government to prove itself in restoring peace and order in the country," Mr Abhisit said on TV on Sunday."The next three to four days will be crucial for the government to prove itself in restoring peace and order in the country," Mr Abhisit said on TV on Sunday.
Thaksin supporters in Bangkok cheered his phone message
"The government will take action against those who were involved in the incident yesterday without bias.""The government will take action against those who were involved in the incident yesterday without bias."
Jakrapob Penkair, a protest leader, said in the capital Bangkok that the movement against Mr Abhisit had won a victory. Another protest leader, Jakrapob Penkair, said in Bangkok that the movement against Mr Abhisit had won a victory.
"We have won, we have stopped them from holding a summit," he said."We have won, we have stopped them from holding a summit," he said.
"But we have not achieved our goal yet. We will continue to protest in Bangkok until Abhisit resigns.""But we have not achieved our goal yet. We will continue to protest in Bangkok until Abhisit resigns."
Pre-summit street protests in the capital this week drew up to 100,000 people.Pre-summit street protests in the capital this week drew up to 100,000 people.
Mr Thaksin himself, who remains in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has welcomed the protest in Pattaya.Mr Thaksin himself, who remains in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has welcomed the protest in Pattaya.
"I thank the Red Shirts in Pattaya who showed strength," he told a rally of supporters in Bangkok by telephone late on Saturday."I thank the Red Shirts in Pattaya who showed strength," he told a rally of supporters in Bangkok by telephone late on Saturday.
"In the next few days we will see real change.""In the next few days we will see real change."