Former Thai PM charged with protester’s murder

Hundreds of riot police flanked the building, as about 20 supporters carrying roses and dozens of protesters holding pictures of those killed in the unrest watched the former leader arrive.

Support from the Thai elite means Abhisit is "unlikely" to go to prison, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University, adding that the former premier "has a sense of political invincibility".

He told AFP that Abhisit's arraignment was part of a "political tit-for-tat", with prosecutions against both sides, but said it still could deter the use of force against demonstrators in the future.

"It is a very important charge, because it means that the sense of impunity is being challenged," he told AFP.

The DSI said earlier Thursday that after hearing the charges Abhisit and Suthep would be released without bail because they were prominent figures.

Tarit told reporters at DSI headquarters that it was "very awkward" for him to file the charges against the pair because of their position in society and since he himself had served on the official body that oversaw the crackdown in 2010.