Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin led Thai armed troops and tanks to establish control over Thai capital Bangkok, while Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in New York to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly. The military group declared martial law nationwide today.

"The armed forces commander and the national police commander have successfully taken over Bangkok and the surrounding area in order to maintain peace and order. There has been no struggle," the announcement said.

"We ask for the cooperation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience."

The coup went largely unnoticed in Thailand's tourist districts, where tourists were unaware of the activity about three kilometers away, The Standart comments.

This is country's 20th coup d'etat since it embraced democracy instead of absolute monarchy in 1932.

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called on the military to respect the authority of his deputy prime minister Chitchai Wanathasin but his broadcast was cut off briefly.

The premier has been under pressure to resign since January in the face of mounting street protests against his allegedly corrupt administration and dictatorial leadership, as his self-serving policies and dictatorial style have turned Thailand's middle class and the politcal elite against him.

The announcer for the military groupsaid the seizure of power was necessary because of increasing political conflict was threatening national unity.

"We will not seize power for long," said a spokesman for self-proclaimed the Democratic Reform under the Monarchy Council. "We will restore power to a government under the monarchy very soon."