The Criminal Court of Thailand on November 26 approved an arrest warrant for a top protest leader in connection with the occupation of several government ministries as part of efforts to topple the government.

According to Col. Sunthorn Kongklam in Bangkok, the police asked former deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban surrender, otherwise they can arrest him on sight.

The former senior opposition figure was among demonstrators who stormed the finance ministry office on November 25.

He later vowed to "seize all ministries" in order to paralyse the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Some 180,000 demonstrators have rallied against PM Yingluck and her brother, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, in the biggest street protest since 2010.

The recent protests were sparked by an amnesty bill that could have allowed the return of Thaksin from self-imposed exile. The Thai Government has imposed an internal security act in the capital and its surrounding areas to keep the situation under control.

The same day, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called on relevant Thai sides to maintain the country's stability through dialogue.

Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular press briefing that China is concerned about the current situation in Thailand, hoping that relevant sides in the country will consider national interest as the priority to properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation in order to avoid further unrest.-VNA