UN: Thai government spokesman says coup can not succeed

Thailand's government spokesman said on Tuesday (September 19) an attempted military coup in Bangkok could not succeed. "Some of the military officials came out and tried to make a coup attempt but we confirmed they cannot succeed," government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee, attending the U.N. General Assembly with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, told Reuters. "Now we're in control," he said, adding it had not been decided when the prime minister would return home after addressing the U.N. body later on Tuesday (September 19). The Thai army took control of Bangkok on Tuesday (September 19) and announced it would set up a commission to reform the constitution despite Thaksin declaring a state of emergency in a voice broadcast from New York. After tanks surrounded Government House in the country's first coup in 15 years, all television channels relayed a written statement saying the armed forces and police were in control of Bangkok and surrounding provinces, and appealed for calm. "We have known about the situation since this morning New York time," Surapong said. "We think at this moment no one can accept the coup attempt because democracy in Thailand has developed to some maturity." Thaksin's speech to the U.N. General Assembly was brought forward to Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. (2300 GMT) after the coup attempt. He had been due to speak on Wednesday afternoon. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said Washington was aware of reports of a coup attempt "and for now, the important thing is to look for the sustaining of the constitution process." He added more information was needed and that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was contacting Ralph "Skip" Boyce, the U.S. ambassador in Thailand. "But the importance of adhering to constitutional principles is important," he said.

ITN Source | September 21, 2006

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