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 >>>

    BANGKOK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Thai Royal Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyarataglin staged a coup d'etat Tuesday evening and ousted the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

    A so-called "Democratic Reform Council" declared itself in control and declared martial law nationwide. Terse announcements said it included the commanders of all three armed forces and the police. It said the coup was necessary to correct "unprecedented division in the country." Full Story>>

Thai military coup ousts PM Thaksin when he is out

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 Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BANGKOK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A swift coup d'etat in Bangkok Tuesday night has ousted Thai caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while the premier was far away from home.

    Thaksin was in New York, the United States, to attend the 16th UN General Assembly when the military staged a coup in Bangkok on late Tuesday night.

    A military source told Xinhua 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.Full Story>>

U.S. calls for peaceful solution to political difference in Thailand

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday urged Thailand to resolve political differences peacefully following the reports that a military coup occurred in Bangkok against the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

    The United States is closely monitoring the developments in Thailand. "but the situation at the moment is unclear," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said. Full Story>>

Finnish PM stresses need to revert to democratic order in Thailand

    HELSINKI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- EU current presidency Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen expressed grave concern in a statement over the events that took place on the night of Tuesday in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

    Prime Minister Vanhanen said in the statement in the late night of Tuesday that it is highly regrettable that democratic institutions seem to have been taken over by military force. He emphasized the need to revert to democratic order without delay. Enditem