Thai authorities on Tuesday cracked down on anti-government protesters, ordering the arrest of deposed premier Thaksin Sinawatra and 13 other protest leaders, hours after the two-day siege of the capital fizzled out with the demonstrators buckling under army pressure. Hundreds of pro-Thaksin 'red-shirt' protesters, who had fought pitched street battles with armed troops, demanding resignation of premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, quietly left after their leaders surrendered to the military, which had ringed their last holdout in front of the Government House in Bangkok.
The state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas will remain in force until security forces can ensure complete stability, Vejjajiva said.
He said three protest leaders -- Veera Musikapong, Weng Tochirakarn and Nattawut Saikua -- were charged in connection with the violent demonstrations which left at least two killed and more than 120 injured.
The trio faces criminal charges of breaking traffic laws, inciting people to break the law and illegal assembly.
The agitation had forced the Thai government to put off the India-ASEAN Summit with Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, who was representing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and other leaders being airlifted from Pattaya.
A court in Bangkok on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for exiled ex- premier Thaksin and 13 leaders of United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), charging them with inciting public disturbance and illegal assembly.