Ex-deputy PM grilled over Thai protests deaths

Suthep Thaugsuban, who was in charge of national security at the time of the demonstrations, told reporters after visiting the Metropolitan Police headquarters as a witness that he had "acted within the law".

He added: "All officials were following orders which were given under the law."

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded during the April and May 2010 rallies, which drew about 100,000 "Red Shirt" demonstrators at their peak.

On Friday former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is due to be grilled by police as a witness.

It is the first time that top members of the previous government have been summoned for questioning over their handling of the protests, which ended when soldiers firing live rounds stormed the fortified rally site.