Thailand blames PM death threats on exiled anti-monarchists

Thailand's national security chief said Monday that a group of Laos-based Thais wanted for spreading anti-monarchy messages had made death threats against the prime minister and his deputy. The allegation comes as Thailand seeks to extradite the group for slandering the royal family -- an offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison per count. "The threats came from Thais who are disloyal to the monarchy and ran away to live in Laos...It is the same group that held radio programmes defaming the monarchy," national security chief Thaweep Netniyom told reporters in Bangkok.