Coup Leader Vows to Return Power to Thais

The military leader who ousted Thailand's prime minister in a coup overnight vowed today to wipe the political slate clean and return "power to the people" soon.

The army commander-in-chief, General Sondhi Boonyaratklin, led the country's first coup in 15 years without a shot being fired, overthrowing Thaksin Shinawatra while he was at the United Nations in New York.

In a televised address flanked by the three armed forces chiefs and the head of the national police force, Gen Sondhi said: "We would like to reaffirm that we don't have any intention to rule the country and will return power to the Thai people as soon as possible."

He said the coup, which has been condemned by the European Union, was needed "in order to resolve the conflict and bring back normalcy and harmony among people".

There was no clear official word on Mr Thaksin's plans but the billionaire was reportedly on his way to London; the website of the Thai newspaper the Nation claimed he had already arrived in the UK.

Speaking earlier in New York, Tom Kruesopon, a business associate of the ousted prime minister, who is travelling with him, said Mr Thaksin's immediate plans were to meet his wife and children in London. One of Mr Thaksin's three children is studying in the city, where he also owns a house.

"The prime minister has not given up his power, he is not seeking asylum," Mr Kruesopon said. However, Mr Thaksin's official government spokesman, Surapong Suebwonglee, also with the prime minister, said: "We have to accept what happened," he said. "We are not coming back soon."

Gen Sondhi said the newly created Council of Administrative Reform carried out the coup to end intensifying conflicts in Thai society, corruption in the government, insults to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and what the general called Mr Thaksin's attempts to destroy democratic institutions.

The military announced this morning that Thailand's four regional army commanders had been appointed to keep the peace and run a civil administration in their respective areas outside the capital, adding that those who resisted the commanders would be severely punished.

Bangkok residents awoke today to the unfamiliar sight of soldiers on street corners and tanks blocking off the government district. However, the city of more than 10 million was calm and most residents appeared unfazed by events. Around 20 tanks, with yellow ribbons tied around their barrels, cordoned off the Royal Palace, Royal Plaza, army headquarters and Mr Thaksin's office at Government House.

The new regime has put the country under martial law and declared a provisional authority loyal to the Thai king, ordering government offices, banks, schools and the stock market to close for the day and seizing television and radio stations.

In an apparent effort to block any counter-actions by Mr Thaksin's supporters, especially those in the countryside, a council statement urged farmers and workers to remain calm, adding that any assembly of more than five people was punishable by six months in prison and a fine of around £130. It said stockpiling or increasing the price of goods carried a two-year jail term and a fine.

The Thai newspaper The Nation said several senior government officials and others close to Mr Thaksin had been arrested, with their fates unknown. It said they included the deputy prime minister, Chitchai Wannasathit, and the supreme military commander, General Ruengroj Maharsaranond. The agriculture minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, one of Mr Thaksin's closest political associates, had fled to Paris with her family, the Nation said.

Gen Sondhi sent tanks and troops into the streets of Bangkok while Mr Thaksin was preparing to give a speech to the UN general assembly in New York; the speech was cancelled as news of the coup emerged.

Today, some Thais welcomed the developments as a necessary climax to months of demands for Mr Thaksin to resign amid allegations of corruption.

"This is exciting. Someone had to do this. It's the right thing," said Somboon Sukheviriya, 45, a software developer.

In a statement today, the EU condemned the coup and demanded a return to a "democratically elected government". The US state department said it was uneasy about the military takeover and hoped "the Thai people will resolve their political differences in accord with democratic principles and the rule of law".

Australia and New Zealand used stronger language, with Canberra saying it was concerned to see democracy "destroyed", and the New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark, saying her country "condemns" the coup.

Around 20,000 Britons are officially registered as living in or visiting Thailand, and thousands more are estimated to be there on holiday.

The Foreign Office urged Britons to stay away from demonstrations and large crowds in Thailand. It said Britons should watch the local media and those on holiday should keep in close touch with tour operators. "The British Embassy in Bangkok is closely monitoring the situation," the Foreign Office said.

Barry Osborne, the general manager of the British Club Bangkok, which acts as a sports and social club for all nationalities and currently has 1,100 members, told the Press Association by telephone: "All is very quiet here. The international press has been blocked, so you probably know more than we do. Everybody is quietly going on with their life and there is no panic."