Thai police detained Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, a co-leader of the anti-government movement, on insurrection charges in capital Bangkok on Friday.

Sombat, a former rector of the National Institute of Development and Administration (NIDA), was apprehended inside the NIDA compound, confirmed Tarit Pengdith, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation and secretary-general of the government-run Center for the Administration of Peace and Order.

The arrest came after the Criminal Court on Wednesday approved arrest warrants for 30 leaders and core members of the anti- government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) on insurrection charges. PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban was not on the list.

Sombat reportedly said he would deny all charges and request release on bail.

In a separate incident, caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan said Friday that he would have no time to meet the Senate on Saturday, as the Senate earlier proposed to discuss solutions to the political impasse as he had planned to work outside the capital over the weekend.

Niwattumrong is now inspecting the northern province of Chiang Rai, which was jolted by 6.3-magnitude earthquake on May 5 and numerous aftershocks that followed. Endi

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