Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, attending the UN General Assembly in New York, declared his government's deep concern over the military takeover in Thailand, calling the overthrow of the elected government unacceptable and demanding a return to democratic rule.
Canberra issued a travel advisory urging Australians to postpone any plans to visit Thailand and cautioning those already in the country to stay away from military personnel and avoid any political gatherings, which authorities warned could turn violent.
Downer acknowledged strong bilateral ties between Australia and Thailand, including a free trade agreement and military exchanges, but said it was premature to announce specific policy consequences. "We'll just need to find out more," he said, before committing to any changes.
Australia's ambassador in Bangkok monitored developments through the night, and embassy staff were instructed to keep their children home from school. Qantas flights to Thailand continued operating normally, though the airline said it was watching the situation closely.
Thai armed forces seized control of Bangkok while Prime Minister Thaksin was in New York, dismissing him from office, suspending the constitution, and deploying tanks around Government House. The military pledged a quick restoration of democracy following political reforms.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.