This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6945676.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Thai court orders Thaksin arrest Thai court orders Thaksin arrest
(about 1 hour later)
Thailand's Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on corruption charges. Thailand's Supreme Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on corruption charges.
The ruling came after Mr Thaksin and his wife failed to attend court in the Thai capital, Bangkok.The ruling came after Mr Thaksin and his wife failed to attend court in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
The court was to hear the first of a series of corruption cases being brought against the former leader. The court was to hear the first of a series of cases being brought against the former leader, who was ousted in a military coup last year.
Mr Thaksin, who has recently bought Manchester City football club, was ousted by a military coup last year. Since then he has been living in the UK and recently bought Manchester City FC.
He has been living overseas since then, mainly in the UK. Mr Thaksin had been ordered to appear at the hearing to listen to charges that he abused his power while in office, by helping his wife buy land from a state agency at a favourable price.
He denies any wrongdoing and says the charges against him are politically motivated.
Telecoms tycoon
His lawyers had asked for the case against him to be postponed until after general elections promised for December, arguing that he would not get a fair trial.
But the court's nine-member panel ordered that he appear in time for a new hearing on 25 September.
"The court has approved arrest warrants against the two suspects," Judge Tonglor Chomngarm said. "Both should be brought before the court.""The court has approved arrest warrants against the two suspects," Judge Tonglor Chomngarm said. "Both should be brought before the court."
Mr Thaksin has been ordered to appear to hear charges he abused his power by helping his wife buy land from a state agency at a favourable price. Thailand's attorney-general and the prosecution have indicated that if they could seek Mr Thaksin's extradition from the UK if he does not turn up at the next hearing.
He denies any wrongdoing and says the cases against him are politically motivated. The two countries have a long-standing extradition treaty, although each case is decided on its merits, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok.
A special committee is currently investigating another 12 cases of alleged corruption during Mr Thaksin's administration, our correspondent adds.
Prosecutors argue that Mr Thaksin, already a wealthy telecoms tycoon when he first took office, became abnormally rich while prime minister. He denies this, saying the value of his family's company increased in line with other businesses in Thailand.
If Mr Thaksin were to be convicted, our correspondent says, that could pose a problem for the English Premier League, as he might - as the new owner of Manchester City football club - be in breach of the League's rules.