Thai coup confirmed
Army chief Sonthi, along with the heads of the other Thai armed forces and police, has appeared on TV here to confirm his coup d'etat. He has formed a Democratic Reform Council and declared martial law.
Sonthi explained in his prepared statement that the coup was a result of extreme frustration at Prime Minister Thaksin's corruption and abuses of power. The state of emergency, declared by Thaksin last night, has been revoked. Thaksin cancelled his planned UN speech, and is thought to have travelled to London, where his daughter is studying.
Both houses of parliament, the constitution, the cabinet, and the Constitution Court have been dissolved. However, the Supreme Court and Administrative Court (which were independent of the Thaksin regime) remain operational.
We now have more details about the chronology of events. It seems that Sonthi attempted to negotiate with Thaksin's representatives and General Prem (head of the Privy Council, and effectively the King's spokesman). Sonthi sought assurances that Thaksin would leave politics, though Thaksin refused to do so. It was then that Thaksin sacked Sonthi and declared a state of emergency, at 9.30pm last night. The coup took place very shortly afterwards, before 10pm.
There has been no resistance from Thaksin's supporters within Thailand, and Sonthi has stressed that he has no intention of assuming power himself. He has pledged to "return power to the people" with a general election as soon as possible.
Sonthi explained in his prepared statement that the coup was a result of extreme frustration at Prime Minister Thaksin's corruption and abuses of power. The state of emergency, declared by Thaksin last night, has been revoked. Thaksin cancelled his planned UN speech, and is thought to have travelled to London, where his daughter is studying.
Both houses of parliament, the constitution, the cabinet, and the Constitution Court have been dissolved. However, the Supreme Court and Administrative Court (which were independent of the Thaksin regime) remain operational.
We now have more details about the chronology of events. It seems that Sonthi attempted to negotiate with Thaksin's representatives and General Prem (head of the Privy Council, and effectively the King's spokesman). Sonthi sought assurances that Thaksin would leave politics, though Thaksin refused to do so. It was then that Thaksin sacked Sonthi and declared a state of emergency, at 9.30pm last night. The coup took place very shortly afterwards, before 10pm.
There has been no resistance from Thaksin's supporters within Thailand, and Sonthi has stressed that he has no intention of assuming power himself. He has pledged to "return power to the people" with a general election as soon as possible.
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