DHAKA: Thai police on Monday arrested an anti-government protest leader, their first such move after months of defiant rallies in Bangkok aimed at ousting Yingluck Shinawatra’s beleaguered government.

Protest leaders have flouted arrest warrants and an emergency decree to deliver caustic daily speeches, lead marches, block roads and occupy government buildings in their bid to topple Yingluck’s government.

Rallies have continued despite the declaration of a state of emergency before a February 2 snap election.

The poll was widely disrupted by protesters in Bangkok and the southern provinces.

Sontiyan Cheunruethainaitham was arrested on Monday morning at a hotel in Bangkok, according to the head of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Tarit Pengdith, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1947 HRS, FEB 10, 2014