REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANGKOK -- Thailand's Criminal Court on Wednesday approved an arrest warrant for protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on murder charges for his role in the 2010 military crackdown on red shirt supporters which left more than 90 people dead.

The court approved the warrant upon the request of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) after Mr Suthep was earlier granted approval to defer the indictment several times.

Mr Suthep was deputy prime minister and director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) in 2010,--the agency which then coordinated military operations using live ammunition to disperse red shirt supporters rallying against the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration in the April-May crackdown.

The former deputy premier-turned-protest leader was charged along with former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, a co-defendant in the case.

Mr Abhisit has already been indicted on murder and attempted murder charges for his role in the crackdown.

It was the third arrest warrant issued for Mr Suthep following two previous warrants for insurrection and violating the emergency decree for his role in leading anti-government rallies against the caretaker government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

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