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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thailand martial law: Army chief to meet key players | Thailand martial law: Army chief to meet key players |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thailand's army chief is to hold talks with key players in the political crisis, a day after declaring martial law in the protest-hit nation. | Thailand's army chief is to hold talks with key players in the political crisis, a day after declaring martial law in the protest-hit nation. |
| General Prayuth Chan-Ocha has asked to meet the government, the Senate speaker and the two main protest factions. | General Prayuth Chan-Ocha has asked to meet the government, the Senate speaker and the two main protest factions. |
| After the talks it could become clearer whether the military will restrict itself to security or extend its powers, a BBC correspondent says. | After the talks it could become clearer whether the military will restrict itself to security or extend its powers, a BBC correspondent says. |
| On Tuesday, the acting prime minister appealed to the army to act peacefully. | On Tuesday, the acting prime minister appealed to the army to act peacefully. |
| Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan also said he had asked for new elections to be called for August, after a snap poll in February was annulled. | Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan also said he had asked for new elections to be called for August, after a snap poll in February was annulled. |
| The army chief would meet the representatives of all the factions together, an army spokesman said, at talks due to start from 13:30 (06:30 GMT). | |
| "General Prayuth has called a meeting at the Army Club with all sides to talk about ways out of the country's crisis," Winthai Suvaree told Reuters news agency. | "General Prayuth has called a meeting at the Army Club with all sides to talk about ways out of the country's crisis," Winthai Suvaree told Reuters news agency. |
| Deadlock cycle | Deadlock cycle |
| Thailand has seen six months of unrest since protesters began a campaign in November 2013 to oust the government. At least 28 people have been killed and hundreds injured. | Thailand has seen six months of unrest since protesters began a campaign in November 2013 to oust the government. At least 28 people have been killed and hundreds injured. |
| The army announced martial law in the early hours of Tuesday with the intention to "preserve order and bring back peacefulness". | The army announced martial law in the early hours of Tuesday with the intention to "preserve order and bring back peacefulness". |
| It cited a 1914 law that allows intervention during times of crisis but insisted this was not a coup. | It cited a 1914 law that allows intervention during times of crisis but insisted this was not a coup. |
| Thailand's martial law act of 1914 | |
| Thailand's turbulent history of military coups | |
| Soldiers have taken over TV and radio stations in Bangkok - both pro and anti-government - and have moved into the currently unoccupied government building. | Soldiers have taken over TV and radio stations in Bangkok - both pro and anti-government - and have moved into the currently unoccupied government building. |
| Thailand has been trapped in a cycle of political deadlock since the military ousted Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in 2006. | Thailand has been trapped in a cycle of political deadlock since the military ousted Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in 2006. |
| He was widely admired by poor, rural voters - who have since elected Thaksin-allied governments in both post-coup elections - but despised by the urban elite, who form the core of the current protest movement. | He was widely admired by poor, rural voters - who have since elected Thaksin-allied governments in both post-coup elections - but despised by the urban elite, who form the core of the current protest movement. |
| His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, led the current government until she was ousted by a court earlier this month. | His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, led the current government until she was ousted by a court earlier this month. |
| The protesters say Shinawatra family money has corrupted Thailand's democracy and want an appointed administration to reform the political system before polls are held. | The protesters say Shinawatra family money has corrupted Thailand's democracy and want an appointed administration to reform the political system before polls are held. |
| But any move to appoint a new administration would infuriate "red-shirt" government supporters, who have vowed to protest. | But any move to appoint a new administration would infuriate "red-shirt" government supporters, who have vowed to protest. |
| The army has staged at least 11 coups since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932. | The army has staged at least 11 coups since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932. |