BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A Thai court issued arrest warrants Monday for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife because of their alleged violations of stock-trading laws. It is the second set of warrants issued in the past month against Thaksin.

    The other case involved conflict of interest related to the sale of Bangkok real estate. Thaksin and his family have been living abroad since he was ousted in a bloodless coup almost a year ago.

    Sunai Manomaiudom, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation -- Thailand's equivalent of the FBI -- said the Bangkok Criminal Court had issued the warrant at his agency's request.

    Thaksin's lawyer, Pichit Chuenban, said he would inform the former prime minister of Monday's court action, and advise him not to return to fight the case "because the situation in the country is not normal."

    "We think he should return only after we have an elected government," Pichit said. Thailand is currently administered by an interim civilian government, but a military council exercises power behind the scenes and is intensely hostile toward Thaksin.

    Thaksin has denied all allegations against him, and has said he will not return to Thailand until after new elections are held at the end of this year.

    Thaksin became a billionaire in the telecommunications sector before entering politics and serving as prime minister since 2001. A controversial business deal by his family, the sale early last year of its telecommunications company Shin Corp. to a Singapore state investment company, was a major cause of public discontent.

    The new warrants for Thaksin and his wife, Pojamarn, involve charges of violating regulations requiring disclosure of corporate information to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

    (Agencies)