Military Takes Over Thailand By Coup

The Thai military has taken control of the government in a coup and has given the country's military chief the power to act as Prime Minister.

Military officials also imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time (11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET), authorities said in a televised address.

 

And the military has ordered that the 2007 constitution be thrown out, except for Section 2, which acknowledges that the king is the head of state.

 

The developments are the latest in a chain of failed attempts to defuse tensions that have simmered since November. The discord has its roots in politics, and led both pro- and anti-government factions to fight over the country's leadership.

 

The military on Tuesday imposed martial law in an attempt to end the instability, but said it was not a coup. Now, it has taken power outright.

 

In a statement released by the military, it said the military chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, now had the powers to act as Prime Minister until a new Prime Minister is in place.

 

The move came after rival factions were unable to come up with a suitable agreement to govern, the military chief said in a national address.