Thailand’s army chief declared a coup Thursday, detaining key party leaders and suspending the constitution in what he said was a bid to restore order and institute political reform after six months of political chaos and violence.
Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, flanked by military leaders and the Thai police chief, announced the military takeover in a televised address.
The full-blown coup — the 12th since 1932 — came three days after the military had invoked martial law over the political stalemate that followed the resignation of of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over corruption charges on May 7.