Coup Leader Promises Handover in Two Weeks

The military leader who ousted Thailand's prime minister in a coup overnight pledged today to hand over power in two weeks to an interim civilian government in advance of general elections a year from now.

Thaksin Shinawatra, the PM whose overthrow came while he was at the UN in New York, was due to arrive in London later today, the Foreign Office said. Mr Thaksin has a home in the city, where one of his children is a student.

The leader of the bloodless coup, army commander-in-chief General Sondhi Boonyaratklin, said he would act as prime minister for two weeks until a new leader "who is neutral and upholds democracy" could be found, with general elections scheduled for October 2007.

"We have two weeks. After two weeks, we step out," he told a press conference in Bangkok. The new civilian cabinet would spend their year in office drawing up a new constitution, to be submitted to a referendum before the election, he added.

Gen Sondhi tried to reassure foreign governments that the new regime would provide stability, saying: "Foreign policy and international agreements will not be changed." The coup has been greeted with dismay overseas, with the EU, UN and others calling for a return to democracy.

Mr Thaksin, the billionaire telecoms tycoon whose near six years in office have been plagued by allegations of corruption and political deadlock, has yet to make clear his own plans.

It remains to be seen what reception Mr Thaksin would receive should he return to Thailand in the future.

"Thaksin is a Thai and a fellow countryman and there will be no problem should he decide to return," Gen Sondhi said at the press conference, but also hinted that he might face prosecution.

But asked whether the new regime would seek to confiscate some of Mr Thaksin's considerable assets, the general replied only that "those who have committed wrongdoings have to be prosecuted according to the law".

Bangkok residents awoke today to 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, which has named itself the Council of Administrative Reform, 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.

Thai newspaper The Nation said several senior government officials and others close to Mr Thaksin had been arrested, with their fates unknown.

Gen Sondhi said he had 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.

But he insisted that the king, a politically neutral figure who has been on the throne for 60 years and is hugely revered by the Thai people, had not backed the coup.

"I am the one who decided to stage the coup. No one supported me," the general 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.

First elected in January 2001, Mr Thaksin was re-elected in 2005 but faced fierce protests over allegations of tax avoidance and a bloody insurgency in the south of the country. He held a snap poll in April, but this was boycotted by opposition parties and the results later annulled.

Today, some Thais welcomed the developments as a necessary climax to months of political deadlock and demands for Mr Thaksin to resign.

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

The reaction elsewhere was more negative. The EU condemned the coup and demanded a return to a "democratically elected government", while the US state department and UN secretary general Kofi Annan expressed their concern.

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.