Across Asia: Thailand

Protest chief arrested

Thai media firebrand Sondhi Limthongkul, leader of an anti-government street campaign, yesterday surrendered to police to answer accusations of insulting King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Sondhi, who staged similar protests in 2005 that eventually resulted in a coup against then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, led 1,500 protesters on a 1 km march to give himself up at the Metropolitan Police Headquarters. He faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty of defaming the deeply revered monarch.