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| Thai leaders ban political action | Thai leaders ban political action |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thailand's new leaders have banned all meetings and other activities by political parties, two days after taking power in a military coup. | Thailand's new leaders have banned all meetings and other activities by political parties, two days after taking power in a military coup. |
| They also say they have assumed legislative powers and duties in the absence of a parliament. | They also say they have assumed legislative powers and duties in the absence of a parliament. |
| Ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra said he would take a "deserved rest", but called for quick elections. | Ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra said he would take a "deserved rest", but called for quick elections. |
| Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva challenged the military's timeframe and called for elections in six months. | Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva challenged the military's timeframe and called for elections in six months. |
| Coup leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin has proposed a year-long transitional period as a constitution is drafted. | Coup leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin has proposed a year-long transitional period as a constitution is drafted. |
| People returned to work on Thursday for the first time since PM Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in Tuesday's bloodless takeover. | People returned to work on Thursday for the first time since PM Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in Tuesday's bloodless takeover. |
| Tanks are still patrolling Bangkok's streets but the military presence is now less visible. | Tanks are still patrolling Bangkok's streets but the military presence is now less visible. |
| 'Clarification needed' | 'Clarification needed' |
| A statement read on TV said the ban on political activities had been taken to maintain order. No timeframe was given for the ban. | A statement read on TV said the ban on political activities had been taken to maintain order. No timeframe was given for the ban. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the measures will sit uneasily in a country accustomed to enjoying some of the strongest civil liberties in the region. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the measures will sit uneasily in a country accustomed to enjoying some of the strongest civil liberties in the region. |
| The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out reforms they promised Abhisit VejjajivaOpposition leader 'Deserved rest' for Thaksin Regional press worried | The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out reforms they promised Abhisit VejjajivaOpposition leader 'Deserved rest' for Thaksin Regional press worried |
| The order also banned the formation of new parties. | The order also banned the formation of new parties. |
| In addition, the ruling council has summoned the editors of a number of television stations and asked them not to broadcast opinions from the public sent in by text message. | In addition, the ruling council has summoned the editors of a number of television stations and asked them not to broadcast opinions from the public sent in by text message. |
| The military is already blocking broadcasts it deems harmful, including any television pictures of Mr Thaksin. | The military is already blocking broadcasts it deems harmful, including any television pictures of Mr Thaksin. |
| The statement said the order would be reversed when normality returned. | The statement said the order would be reversed when normality returned. |
| Public gatherings of more than five people are already forbidden under martial law, imposed when the military first took power. | Public gatherings of more than five people are already forbidden under martial law, imposed when the military first took power. |
| Correspondents say no open opposition to the coup has emerged. | Correspondents say no open opposition to the coup has emerged. |
| Our correspondent says opinion polls suggest most Thais - both urban and rural - have accepted the military takeover as a necessary step to end the crisis over Mr Thaksin's leadership. | Our correspondent says opinion polls suggest most Thais - both urban and rural - have accepted the military takeover as a necessary step to end the crisis over Mr Thaksin's leadership. |
| But, he says, they may be less willing to accept the military leaders' mounting restrictions. | But, he says, they may be less willing to accept the military leaders' mounting restrictions. |
| Promised reforms | Promised reforms |
| But Mr Thaksin, speaking from London, called for national reconciliation. | But Mr Thaksin, speaking from London, called for national reconciliation. |
| "We hope the new regime will quickly arrange a new general election and continue to uphold the principles of democracy for the future of all Thais," a statement said. | "We hope the new regime will quickly arrange a new general election and continue to uphold the principles of democracy for the future of all Thais," a statement said. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The coup leaders are showing absolute disdain for the democratic process Andrew Murphy, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The coup leaders are showing absolute disdain for the democratic process Andrew Murphy, London Send us your comments |
| Mr Abhisit, who leads the Democrat party, the main opposition to Mr Thaksin, said he was not overly alarmed by the coup leaders' new measures but wanted clarification. | Mr Abhisit, who leads the Democrat party, the main opposition to Mr Thaksin, said he was not overly alarmed by the coup leaders' new measures but wanted clarification. |
| In an interview for Reuters news agency, before the announcement, he said he did not support any kind of extra-constitutional change. | In an interview for Reuters news agency, before the announcement, he said he did not support any kind of extra-constitutional change. |
| He denied that a new constitution was needed, and said elections could be held in six months. | He denied that a new constitution was needed, and said elections could be held in six months. |
| "The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out reforms they promised," he said. | "The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out reforms they promised," he said. |
| Government mismanagement | Government mismanagement |
| The coup followed months of growing tension in Thailand, with protests against Mr Thaksin and a general election which was annulled due to concerns about its legitimacy. | The coup followed months of growing tension in Thailand, with protests against Mr Thaksin and a general election which was annulled due to concerns about its legitimacy. |
| href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_thai_coup_aftermath/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_thai_coup_aftermath/html/1.stm', '1158848585', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=530,left=312,top=100'); return false;">BBC readers send in their coup pictures and experiences href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_thai_coup_aftermath/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_thai_coup_aftermath/html/1.stm', '1158848585', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=530,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures | |
| Gen Sonthi has said he was acting in line with the wishes of the Thai people, blaming government mismanagement. | Gen Sonthi has said he was acting in line with the wishes of the Thai people, blaming government mismanagement. |
| He has promised to appoint a new prime minister within two weeks, and said the interim government would draft a new constitution with the aim of restoring democracy within a year. | He has promised to appoint a new prime minister within two weeks, and said the interim government would draft a new constitution with the aim of restoring democracy within a year. |
| In Bangkok, where Mr Thaksin is unpopular, many people have welcomed the news of the coup. | In Bangkok, where Mr Thaksin is unpopular, many people have welcomed the news of the coup. |
| In the countryside the picture is less certain, as most of Mr Thaksin's support base is among the rural poor. | In the countryside the picture is less certain, as most of Mr Thaksin's support base is among the rural poor. |
| Internationally, though, news of the coup has been condemned. | Internationally, though, news of the coup has been condemned. |
| White House press secretary Tony Snow said the US was "disappointed", adding that talks on a US free trade agreement with Thailand depended on a swift return to democracy. | White House press secretary Tony Snow said the US was "disappointed", adding that talks on a US free trade agreement with Thailand depended on a swift return to democracy. |
| According to Thai state TV, Thailand's revered head of state, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has given his backing to Gen Sonthi. | According to Thai state TV, Thailand's revered head of state, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has given his backing to Gen Sonthi. |
| The general is believed to be close to the king, although he says the monarch had nothing to do with the actual coup. | The general is believed to be close to the king, although he says the monarch had nothing to do with the actual coup. |
| Correspondents in Bangkok say securing the endorsement of the 78-year-old monarch is crucial to the success of the military intervention. | Correspondents in Bangkok say securing the endorsement of the 78-year-old monarch is crucial to the success of the military intervention. |