DHAKA: Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra could face murder charges after relatives of two anti-government protesters who died following clashes with police filed a complaint with a criminal court.

A lawyer said Tuesday, reports The Straits Times.

The protesters were among six people, including two policemen, who died after an outbreak of violence on February 18, which saw barrages of gunfire and at least one grenade thrown at police in Bangkok’s historic heart as officers tried to clear a protest site near Government House.

Under Thai law, the court will now have to decide whether the complaints are strong enough to warrant trial, lawyer Chaiwat Sittisuksakul told media.

The broad daylight bloodshed, near the city’s backpacker zone, was the deadliest episode in four months of protests aimed at ousting Yingluck and her government.

BDST: 1627 HRS, MAR 04, 2014