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Thai PM 'overthrown in army coup' Thai PM deposed in military coup
(about 1 hour later)
Military leaders in Thailand say they have overthrown the country's Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. Military leaders in Thailand have staged a coup, suspended the constitution and declared martial law.
Soldiers seized government offices and took up strategic positions around the capital, Bangkok. Parliament and the constitution have been suspended. Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin said the military leadership had formed a council for political reform and ousted the Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
The head of the army, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, will assume prime ministerial powers, the army said. The coup leaders say the cabinet and parliament have been abolished, but power will be returned to the people.
But a spokesman for Mr Thaksin, who is at the UN in New York, insisted the government was still in control. Mr Thaksin cancelled a speech he was due to give at the UN. It is unclear whether he intends to return home.
The spokesman said the coup "could not succeed". It had not been decided when the prime minister would return home from the UN, he added. In the Thai capital, Bangkok, soldiers seized government offices and took up strategic positions around the city.
In pictures: Coup attempt Britons in Bangkok warned Coup-leaders' statementsIn pictures: Coup attempt Britons in Bangkok warned Coup-leaders' statements
However, in a broadcast on all Thai television channels, the leadership of the armed forces said it had taken control of Bangkok, declared nationwide martial law and ordered all troops to return to their bases. In a broadcast on all Thai television channels, the leadership of the armed forces said it had taken control of Bangkok, declared nationwide martial law and ordered all troops to return to their bases.
"We ask for the co-operation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience," the announcement said."We ask for the co-operation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience," the announcement said.
A spokesman for the coup leaders, Gen Prapart Sakuntanak, said the seizure would be temporary and power "returned to the people" soon. A spokesman for the coup leaders, Gen Prapart Sakuntanak, said the seizure would be temporary and power would be "returned to the people" soon.
Declaring themselves the "Council of Political Reform", the rebels - who said they were led by Gen Sonthi - visited the king and declared loyalty to him. The rebels - who said they were led by Gen Sonthi - visited the king and declared loyalty to him.
However the BBC's Kate McGeown in Bangkok says the highly revered King Bhumibol has made no comment about whether he backs the takeover attempt. The highly revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej has made no comment about whether he backs the takeover attempt.
Our correspondent says low-level rumours of a possible coup have been circulating for weeks.
There has been pressure growing on the prime minister to resign, including from groups close to King Bhumibol, following a political impasse in which April's general election was declared invalid.There has been pressure growing on the prime minister to resign, including from groups close to King Bhumibol, following a political impasse in which April's general election was declared invalid.
Cancelled speech But the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports that while many people wanted Mr Thaksin out of office, there will be unease about the way this has happened, and people will be looking to see whether the king has supported the coup.
The streets in Bangkok were quiet on Tuesday night, our correspondent in the city says. People were calm for the most part, curious about what was going on, but some said they were scared. 'Following orders'
Our correspondent says the coup is a surprising development for a country that had been viewed as one of Asia's leading democracies, and events in Thailand will have repercussions throughout the region.
Troops and guys dressed in Swat-style gear are strolling around Russell Miles, Bangkok Witnesses describe turmoil Send us your comments
The streets in Bangkok were quiet on Tuesday night. People were calm for the most part, correspondents say, curious about what was going on, but some said they were scared.
Traffic moved through the streets normally and in the bars of the city centre, foreign tourists seemed oblivious to what was going on.Traffic moved through the streets normally and in the bars of the city centre, foreign tourists seemed oblivious to what was going on.
One soldier on a tank said: "We don't know why we're here, we've been told to say nothing. We're just following orders."One soldier on a tank said: "We don't know why we're here, we've been told to say nothing. We're just following orders."
Russell Miles emailed the BBC News website to say there were troops "dressed in Swat-style gear strolling around" near Government House, and "a tense, but fairly controlled atmosphere".Russell Miles emailed the BBC News website to say there were troops "dressed in Swat-style gear strolling around" near Government House, and "a tense, but fairly controlled atmosphere".
Troops and guys dressed in Swat-style gear are strolling around Russell Miles, Bangkok Witnesses describe turmoil Send us your comments
He said: "We saw a group of blokes bundling a cameraman and another chap into a van. We are taking photos, but not out in the open."He said: "We saw a group of blokes bundling a cameraman and another chap into a van. We are taking photos, but not out in the open."
The military said the country's stock market, banks and schools would remain closed on Wednesday.The military said the country's stock market, banks and schools would remain closed on Wednesday.
BBC World, CNN and other international news channels were taken off the air, and Thai stations played out images of the royal family and patriotic songs.BBC World, CNN and other international news channels were taken off the air, and Thai stations played out images of the royal family and patriotic songs.
The EU's Finnish presidency expressed "grave concern" at events, and the US called on Thais "to resolve their political differences in a peaceful manner".The EU's Finnish presidency expressed "grave concern" at events, and the US called on Thais "to resolve their political differences in a peaceful manner".
It is the first coup attempt in 15 years in a country where they used to be commonplace. It is the first coup attempt in 15 years in a country where they used to be commonplace. There were 17 of them between 1932 and 1991.
At the United Nations, where the annual General Assembly is under way, it was announced that the Mr Thaksin's address had been cancelled.