Thai armed forces seize Bangkok in apparent coup

[stu]

The Thai army took control of Bangkok on Tuesday and announced it would set up a commission to reform the constitution despite Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra declaring a state of emergency from New York.

 

After tanks surrounded Government House in the country's first coup in 15 years, all television channels relayed a written statement saying the armed forces and police were in control of Bangkok and surrounding provinces, and appealed for calm.

 

It said the armed forces and police had set up a commission to decide on political reforms, ousting Thaksin in the midst of protracted political crisis in which he was accused of undermining democracy.

 

Weerasak Kohsurat, a deputy minister in a prior government, told Reuters he believed royal adviser Sumate Tantivejakul would head the reform commission and an interim government would be formed while political reforms were agreed.

 

Elections would be called soon and Thaksin would be allowed to take part, he said.

 

The statement was broadcast shortly after Thaksin called a television station to make a statement from New York, where he is attending a United Nations summit.

 

"I declare Bangkok under a severe state of emergency," he said.

 

The transmission stopped after 10 minutes while the billionaire telecoms tycoon-turned-politician, whose critics accuse him of corruption and abuse of power, was still talking.

 

The capital remained quiet, according to the television message and Reuters reporters.

 

Inside Government House, around 50 soldiers ordered police in the complex to lay down their weapons, a witness said.

 

In his television statement, Thaksin ordered troops not to "move illegally" and told army commander-in-chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin to report to acting Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya.

 

He also ordered Armed Forces Supreme Commander Ruangroj Mahasaranond to implement the emergency order.

 

Even though Thailand's last military coup was 15 years ago, speculation about military intervention has been rife, with motorists calling traffic radio stations last week after tanks were spotted rolling down streets of the capital.

 

That proved to be a false alarm, with the army saying it was merely soldiers returning from exercises.

 

A general election scheduled for October was postponed last week, probably until November.

 

The Thai baht fell immediately after reports of tanks approaching the center of the capital.

 

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