Thai police arrest protest leader

Police in Thailand say they have arrested a key organiser of mass anti-government protests in Bangkok.

Chamlong Srimuang was detained after leaving the prime ministerial compound, where he and thousands of supporters have been barricaded since late August.

He is one of nine protest leaders accused of illegal assembly and inciting unrest.

Protesters demand the resignation of the government, which they say is a proxy for ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Chamlong was arrested as he arrived at a polling station to cast his vote in Bangkok's mayoral elections.

Another protest organiser, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, was detained on Friday as he left the compound.

A police spokesman told the Associated Press that the authorities were preparing to arrest all the protest leaders at the appropriate time and place.

Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been occupying key government buildings in Bangkok for more than two months.

They have vowed to remain in place until their demands for a government independent of Mr Thaksin are met.

Last month, Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, won a majority parliamentary vote to become the country's new prime minister after a court forced his predecessor, Samak Sundaravej, to step down.