Thai court issues arrest warrant for Thaksin foe

BANGKOK, Apr 28 (Reuters) A Bangkok court issued an arrest warrant for a leader of street protests against Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today after he failed repeatedly to report to police to answer complaints of lese majeste.

The Bangkok Criminal Court issued the warrant against media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, who led street rallies against his former business partner, saying Sondhi's excuses for not showing up were weak. ''Reporting himself to the police would not waste his time nor affect his campaign,'' the judge said. ''Therefore, the suspect's excuse is lame.'' Police had summoned Sondhi twice in the twice in the past month to answer questions about complaints filed by Thaksin supporters that he had used inappropriate language in referring to revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Sondhi told Reuters he would report to police soon and seek bail.

''I always said I would comply with whatever the court said, so I am on my way to surrender to the police on those charges, which I flatly deny,'' he said.

REUTERS CH BST1437