Thai court frees on bail 3 who led anti-government protests, warns them against violence

September 12th, 2009 UK gov't troubled by violent anti-Islam protestsLONDON — A British minister is sounding the alarm over a spate of anti-Islam demonstrations that have descended into violence in the past month. Communities minister John Denham says recent clashes between white protesters and Muslim counter-demonstrators in Birmingham and London have parallels to the violence provoked by 1930s-era fascists.

July 6th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Manoj Pradhan, a prime accused in communal violence in Kandhamal last year and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, Monday took oath as a member of the new assembly after he was granted bail by a court. He was the only one among the 147 legislators who was yet to take oath.

June 29th, 2009 THANE - Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray surrendered before railway police here Monday in connection with a case of inciting violence against north Indian students appearing for a railway recruitment exam in October last year. He surrendered before Kalyan Railway Police as per an order of the Bombay High Court and was immediately put under arrest, an MNS worker said.

May 6th, 2009 Judge frees Zimbabwean rights activistHARARE, Zimbabwe — A judge has ordered Zimbabwean rights activist Jestina Mukoko and 14 others freed on bail, reversing her decision of a day earlier that sparked outrage among rights activists and politicians in this country and abroad. Harare Magistrate Catherine Chimanda gave no reason for her retreat, issued at a hastily called court hearing Wednesday.

April 24th, 2009 Thais who rioted last week call for new protestsBANGKOK — Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who rioted in Bangkok last week called Friday for a new protest rally, just hours after Thailand's current leader lifted an emergency decree and said the country had returned to normal. The call followed a special two-day parliamentary session that sought to heal the political divide between supporters and opponents of Thaksin, whose 2006 ouster set off a series of demonstrations as the two rival groups have sought to bring their preferred leaders into power.

April 22nd, 2009 Court rejects Ahmed's bail applicationLAHORE, Pakistan — A Pakistani court on Wednesday rejected a bail application by former test cricketer Ijaz Ahmed. "We have not received the detailed judgment, but yes our (bail) application was today rejected," Ahmed's lawyer, Kashif Javed, told The Associated Press.

April 21st, 2009 Thai parliament to meet for reconciliation talksBANGKOK — Thailand's parliament will meet in special session Wednesday for talks aimed at resolving an ongoing political crisis that erupted into street violence in the capital last week. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who took office in December, has said he wants to convene the legislature for two days of marathon, 12-hour sessions.

April 20th, 2009 Thai anti-government leader promises more protestsBANGKOK — Thailand's anti-government movement will stage new protest actions in the next few days following a military crackdown that ended deadly rioting last week, the group's fugitive leader said. Jakrapob Penkair also said Monday that the violence unleashed at the protests was instigated by military agents disguised as demonstrators in an effort to discredit their movement.

April 14th, 2009 BANGKOK - The three-week anti-government protest that has caused widespread violence Bangkok is over, Veera Musikapong, a leader of the so-called 'red-shirt' protesters said Tuesday. Veera said the mass protest was being called off to 'save the lives of innocent people', following an army crackdown that began Monday.

April 14th, 2009 BANGKOK - The leader of a Muslim community in central Bangkok plans to ask the emir of Dubai to eject fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after his supporters attacked people and property during anti-government protests, a newspaper reported Tuesday. Manit Saengthong, leader of the Darrulaman Mosque community, told the Nation that it would ask Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to bar Thaksin because he uses Dubai 'as a springboard to attack Thailand'.

April 11th, 2009 PATTAYA - Clashes between anti-government and pro-government supporters Saturday delayed meetings at a summit of the southeast Asian leaders at the Thai seaside resort of Pattaya. Meetings between South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ministers from China, South Korea and Japan were delayed, but will go ahead, Thai government spokesman Panitan Watanagorn said, rejecting reports that the meetings were cancelled.

April 11th, 2009 PATTAYA - Thai officials decided to cancel a summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Saturday after anti-government protesters broke into the summit venue at Pattaya, a resort town 100 km south of Bangkok. The Thai government said the summit between ASEAN members and six dialogue partners, including China, Japan and India, was postponed and would be held in about two months.

April 11th, 2009 PATTAYA - A meeting between China and the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit was postponed as anti-government and pro-government protesters clashed at the summit venue here, acting government spokesman Panithan Watanayagorn said. 'We don't want the incident to happen.

March 30th, 2009 PILIBHIT - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi got bail here Monday in criminal cases against him, but will remain behind bars as he also faces charges under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). A court here granted bail to the young leader in two cases filed against him for allegedly communal and inflammatory speeches he made in the run-up to the elections and violence by his supporters when he was arrested here Saturday.

March 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The law would take its own course in the case of Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani, who quit Friday after her bail plea was rejected for her role in the 2002 sectarian violence, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said. 'Once the decision has come from the Gujarat High Court, the party asked her to resign.