Thai military chief seizes power, announces coup

The top army chief in Thailand announced on Thursday that the military was taking control of the government and he would be acting prime minister for now.

The coup announcement comes less than a week after an army general insisted that despite enacting martial law, the military was not taking control of the country in a coup, merely trying to help Thailand until a new government could be installed.

Part of the problem is that protests continue despite a court ouster of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, along with nine ministers, for abuse of power.

According to Reuters, General Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered the coup and installed himself as acting prime minister after talks between supporters of the ousted Shinawatra and those backing the royal establishment flared out.

Prayuth also informed departing cabinet ministers they needed to meet at a northern army base and that Thailand's constitution was being suspended and media was to be censored.

"In order for the situation to return to normal quickly and for society to love and be at peace again ... and to reform the political, economic and social structure, the military needs to take control of power," the general said on television.

Prayuth also said that citizens should continue about their normal lives for the time being and that foreigners visiting or working in the country would be safe, reports CNN. All schools in the country were also shuttering for a three-day period.

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