Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been indicted for murder in connection with a deadly military crackdown on mass opposition protests in Bangkok three years ago, prosecutors said.
The indictment comes as fresh political turmoil shakes the Thai capital, with protesters backed by Abhisit's opposition party seeking to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and rid the kingdom of the influence of her brother, deposed former leader Thaksin.
"We have indicted him (Abhisit)," Nanthasak Poonsuk, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, told AFP outside the Bangkok court where the closed-door hearing was held. "The court accepts to hear the case."
Under Abhisit's government, more than 90 people died and nearly 1,900 were wounded in street clashes in 2010 between mostly unarmed pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt" demonstrators and security forces firing live rounds.
A small group of Red Shirts shouted 'Murderer!' as the Democrat Party leader arrived at court, without speaking to waiting media.