Military Coup in Thailand: Army Announces It Is Taking Control

A full military coup was underway in Thailand on Thursday as the country’s army chief declared he was taking control from rival political groups and imposing an overnight curfew.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha made the announcement in a televised broadcast carried on all TV channels at 5 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET).

It came after an unsuccessful meeting of rival factions aimed at finding a solution to six months of anti-government protests.

Soldiers fired into the air to disperse thousands of pro-government, "red shirt" activists gathered at a protest site in Bangkok's western outskirts. At least one of the protest leaders was detained, said a spokesman for the activists, Thanawut Wichaidit.

Prayuth said the takeover would not affect international relations.

The army had declared martial law on Tuesday to restore order, but insisted the move was not a coup.

Live Text

1. Reporters: Penny Spiller, Jastinder Khera, Anna Browning and Amber Dawson
2. BBC
3. 12:55: Jonah Fisher BBC News, Bangkok 
   says the curfew means the military is obviously making efforts to make sure there is no immediate response to its announcement. Those people who voted for what is still the elected government here will feel extremely annoyed and frustrated by what has happened. Most people are expecting the "red shirts" to rally now and are extremely concerned about the possibility of confrontation.
4. 12:55: Jonah Fisher BBC News, Bangkok 
   reports: What we're hearing is that soldiers have moved rapidly to consolidate their position, moving in on the pro-government "red shirt" camp on the outskirts of Bangkok. They are also moving towards the anti-government demonstrators' camp in the centre of town.
5. 
   

   David Bell in Bangkok, Thailand 
   emails: I drove through the anti-government protest site about an hour before the coup was announced. There was no sign of anything happening and no extra troops visible. The military has been forced to step in as the police have been unwilling or unable to stem the violence by pro-government supporters.
6. 12:50: 
   There have been reports of soldiers clearing anti-government protest camps, but so far the military seems to be avoiding violence: