Nine detained over Thai protest

Protesters say police used tear gas and batons to disperse them

Nine leaders of a violent anti-government protest in Thailand last Saturday have been detained.

They were held for further questioning after appearing at a court in the capital, Bangkok, to hear police charges against them.

The nine men deny charges of illegal assembly and inciting violence.

More than 100 people were injured in clashes, as police tried to disperse thousands of protesters from outside the home of a senior official.

The protesters had accused 86-year-old Prem Tinsulanonda - the most senior adviser to the Thai king - of orchestrating last September's military coup.

Since the takeover, which saw Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted from office, there have been regular protests against military rule, but until now none have been violent.

Referendum plan

Four of the nine men who have been detained are allies of the former prime minister, the AFP news agency quoted the protest organisers as saying.

The other five are pro-democracy activists who had joined the call for an end to the army-backed government that replaced Mr Thaksin, the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship said.

Several thousand demonstrators had descended on Mr Prem's home last Saturday for what organisers said would be a peaceful rally.

However, demonstrators threw rocks and bottles as police moved in to disperse them, and police responded with teargas and water canons - leaving dozens of injured on both sides.

Six people were arrested during the incident and charged with disturbing the peace and injuring police officers.

The government is preparing to hold a nationwide referendum on a new constitution on 19 August.

If it passes, the Thai military says democratic elections could be held by the end of the year.