BANGKOK (DPA) — Thai soldiers Monday released five leaders of the protest movement that rocked Bangkok for seven months before being terminated by last week's coup d'etat, reports said.
Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committtee, was escorted with four other protest leaders from an army base to the Office of the Attorney General early Monday, the Bankok Post reported.
All five face charges of insurrection for leading protests since November aimed at toppling the former government led by the Pheu Thai Party.
Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power with a coup on Thursday, after talks involving political parties and rival street movements failed to resolve their differences and end the political impasse.
About 200 politicians activists, academics and journalists have been summoned by the coup makers since Thursday, of whom at least 150 have been detained.
Junta officials said most will probably be freed within a week.
