Thai military and police declared on late Tuesday that they have seized power of the state from the caretaker government. Armed forces entered TV and radio stations in Bangkok around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

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    BANGKOK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- All radio and TV channels broadcast military statement of successful coup late Tuesday and witnesses saw that forces seized the prime minister's office in Bangkok.

    Earlier, Thai military TV Five reported that the Thai military declared launch of coup.

    Over a dozen tanks blocked roads around Thailand's government headquarters in Bangkok and witnesses saw armed soldiers in the streets of the capital.

    Thai caretaker Prim Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in New York at a United Nations meeting, announced a state of emergency in Bangkok.

    "I declare Bangkok under a severe state of emergency," he said in a voice broadcast on Thai television. Thaksin ordered troops not to "move illegally".

    He said he was ordering the transfer of the nation's army chief to work in the prime minister's office, effectively suspending him from his military duties.

    The statement was suddenly cut off after airing for about 13 minutes.

    Several hundred soldiers were deployed at keys points in the capital of Bangkok.

    Army-owned TV channel 5 interrupted regular broadcasts with patriotic music and showed pictures of the king. Enditem

Scheduled Thai prime minister speech at UN General Assembly canceled 

    UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The scheduled speech by ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday was canceled at the request of the Thai delegation, a Thai diplomatic source told Xinhua.

    Thaksin had originally scheduled to speak to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, but as reports of a coup attempt in Bangkok, the time was switched to Tuesday evening.

    However, after reports of a swift coup d'etat in Bangkok, Thaksin's speech was eventually canceled.

    After a bloodless coup d'etat, a military source said Tuesday that Thaksin had agreed to resign, and that General Surayu Zhulanong, a privy counselor to the King of Thailand, would be the new prime minister of a transitional military government. Enditem