Thai officials urge arrest of former PM

BANGKOK, May 5 (UPI) -- Thai officials say they are asking Nicaragua and the United Arab Emirates to arrest fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and extradite him.

Thaksin last year was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for abuse of power in a land deal. He fled the country while awaiting trial on the charges and has been living in exile since 2006.

Sirisak Tiyaphan, executive director for foreign litigation at the Office of the Attorney General, said Tuesday he has filed official requests with Nicaragua and the United Arab Emirates asking them to arrest Thaksin, the Bangkok Post reported.

Thailand doesn't have extradition treaties with the two countries where Thaksin has reportedly been seen in recent months. Sirisak said he sent summaries of the charges in the Ratchadaphisek land case, warrants for Thaksin's arrest and the verdict of the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to officials in the countries.

The newspaper said Thaksin obtained a Nicaraguan diplomatic passport after his Thai passports were canceled.

The pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship held violent demonstrations during Thailand's Songkran festival last month, the Post said.