| Bangkok, 20 September 2006, Thailand's army commander staged a coup Tuesday night and ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while he was in New York, circling his offices with tanks, declaring martial law and revoking the constitution. Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, who is known to be close to Thailand's revered monarch and is a Muslim in this Buddhist-dominated nation, took power without a shot being fired. He will serve as acting prime minister, said an army spokesman.
Thaksin, elected in 2001, has faced calls to resign amid allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
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General takes over Thailand in coup