Thailand’s army has staged a coup to oust the government and imposed a curfew following months of political unrest. It comes two days after the imposition of martial law.<br /><br />Before the takeover was announced, hundreds of soliders surrounded the location where the leader of the pro-government “red shirt” movement was taking part in peace talks.<br /><br />Shortly afterwards, in a televised statement, the deputy army spokesman ordered the acting prime minister and his cabinet to report to a military compound north of Bangkok.<br /><br />The move came after a meeting between Thailand’s rival factions in the country’s drawn-out conflict.<br /><br />No progress was made and army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha reportedly wound up the gathering by declaring he was seizing power.<br /><br />The Thai army has a long history of intervening in politics, most recently when Thaksin Shinawatra was deposed in 2006.<br /><br />At least 28 people have been killed and 700 injured since the anti-government protests erupted late last year.
