Thai caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's TV statement declaring the country entering the emergency state on Tuesday night was cut off as Thai military is said to have taken hold of the military channels.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BANGKOK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thai caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's TV statement declaring the country entering the emergency state on Tuesday night was cut off as Thai military is said to have taken hold of the military channels.

    Thaksin, in New York to attend UN general assembly, issued the emergency statement around 10:10 p.m. local time (1510GMT) Tuesday on military channel TV9 from the U.S. as a military coup is said to have been launched in Thailand.

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

    The military has said to have taken in control all the military TV channels and radios, which had begun to broadcast "revolutionary songs" ahead of Thaksin's statement. Enditem

Thai military issues statement on successful coup

    BANGKOK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thai military and police declared on late Tuesday that they have seized power of the state from the caretaker government and that caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has agreed to resign.

    Armed forces entered TV and radio stations in Bangkok around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday. About half an hour later a statement were broadcast to the country, declaring the success of coup and asking for people's cooperation.

    Tanks and armed forces occupied the Government House in Bangkokand blocked the paths to the complex.

    The military said the coup, jointly launched by Commanders of the Army, Air, and Navy as well as the Chief of Police, was staged to topple Thaksin, who was at the moment in New York to attend UN general assembly.

    The military said the coup was undertaken without violent confrontation and blooding.

    Thaksin issued a speech from the U.S. by state-controlled TV channel 9 a little ahead of the military victory statement, declaring an emergency state over Bangkok. But the speech was cut off after airing for about 13 minutes, as Thai military took hold of the channels. Enditem

Army commander takes over government, declares martial law

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 >>>

    NEW YORK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's army commander took over the reins of government from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after staging a military coup in the Thai capital Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.

    An announcement on national television, signed by Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, said martial law had been declared across Thailand. He ordered all troops to report to their duty stations and not leave without permission from their commanders, AP said. Enditem