Thai Police Nab Protest Leader

Thai police detained an anti-government protest leader on insurrection charges today in the first arrest since demonstrators stormed the grounds of the prime minister's office in late August. Police arrested the leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy when his car stopped at a highway toll booth. Thousands of members are still occupying Government House in Bangkok.

The PAD says that the current Thai government is a proxy for Thaksin Shinawatra, the exiled prime minister ousted by the army in 2006. Since the group began its protest, a new PM—Thaksin's brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat—has come to power. The new premier has tried to open negotiations with the protest leaders, but so far no formal talks have taken place.