BANGKOK: Prosecutors in Thailand have indicted former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his ex-deputy on murder charges related to a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.
About 90 people died and nearly 1,900 were wounded in the series of street clashes in central Bangkok in 2010.
The case will be referred to a criminal court which will decide whether to put the pair on trial.
Mr Abhisit insists he is innocent and has described the accusations against him as politically motivated.
Human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch have welcomed moves to prosecute the pair.
7-day remand over wife’s murder
KUALA LUMPUR: A former convict suspected of stabbing his wife to death during a quarrel at their house in Sungai Buloh near here last night was remanded for seven days, beginning yesterday.
Gombak police chief ACP Abdul Rahim Abdullah said the 35-year-old was released from prison on Oct 11 - after serving a five-month and 10-day sentence for causing hurt to his wife.
He disclosed that there were seven stab wounds on the woman’s back. Then accused his wife of having an affair with another man. She later died.
According to the police, the suspect surrendered at the Alam Jaya police station last night.
Singaporean dies after fall
SINGAPORE: A man fell to his death at Boon Lay Drive yesterday morning.
His body was found on the ground floor at Block 177 Boon Lay Drive, where a fire was also reported to have broken out.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said the fire broke out in a one-room flat on the 10th floor. Police are unable to confirm if the two incidents are linked. Neighbours said they saw smoke coming from the flat before the 53-year-old Chinese man jumped out of a kitchen window.
His body was found yesterday morning.
China corruption trial suspended
BEIJING: The trial of three Chinese anti-corruption activists seen as part of an official clampdown on citizens’ demands for reforms was suspended yesterday, a lawyer said.
Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua were charged with “illegal assembly” for unfurling a banner outside a housing complex in April. The court in in Xinyu, in the central province of Jiangxi, was forced to suspend the hearing after the defendants withdrew permission for their lawyers to represent them in protest at what they called the court’s “illegal conduct”.
Mongolia president visits N Korea
SEOUL: Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj arrived in North Korea yesterday and held talks with its nominal head of state Kim Yong-Nam, state media said.
The trip marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Mongolia was the second country to formally recognise North Korea after the Soviet Union.
The Mongolian president is the first head of state to visit Pyongyang for possible talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un since he
came to power nearly two years ago. AGENCIES
