BANGKOK, Sept 20: Thailand’s new military ruler pledged on Wednesday to resign from power in two weeks and restore democracy in a year, after sweeping aside Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup.

Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who orchestrated Tuesday night’s coup while the premier was out of the country, said Mr Thaksin had been pushed out in line with the wishes of the people after months of political turmoil.

“I will resign as interim prime minister within two weeks, and now we are looking for the person who will become the new prime minister,” said Gen Sonthi, who added that he hoped to hold new elections in October next year.

“The potential candidates are politically neutral and love democracy, with the king as head of state,” he said.

After announcing the coup on Tuesday night, Gen Sonthi and his generals met King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who in the past has given his tacit blessing to replace unpopular leaders and restore order in times of crisis.

A televised statement later said the king had endorsed Gen Sonthi as head of an interim governing council.

“For the sake of the nation’s peace and order, the king has appointed Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin to become the leader of Military Council for Political Reform,” said the statement broadcast on all TV channels.

“People should be calm and all government officials should follow General Sonthi’s orders.”

Thailand has been wracked by months of upheaval since Mr Thaksin’s family sold nearly two billion dollars of shares in the telecom firm he founded — without paying any tax.

Waves of street protests convinced Mr Thaksin to call a new election in April and step down temporarily, but the poll descended into chaos and members of the election commission were jailed on charges of helping Gen Thaksin’s party.

New elections were repeatedly delayed, and Gen Sonthi said the generals had finally decided it was time to take action. He denied the king was involved in the coup.

“Nobody was behind us. We decided on our own, and we took care of it on our own,” he said.

“We decided within the last two days to stage a coup because the people have called for it and also because of the mismanagement of the government,” Gen Sonthi said. Across Thailand, there were no immediate reports of violence or unrest.

Gen Sonthi, who announced after the coup that the constitution had been annulled, said a new interim constitution would be ready early next month, which would lead to a permanent constitution about one year later.

“The next general election will hopefully take place in October next year,” the general said.

Earlier, Gen Sonthi said there would be strict new controls on the media and a ban on public gatherings, prompting media watchdog Reporters Without Borders to voice concern about censorship in Thailand after the coup.

“The military government must lose no time in guaranteeing the restoration of basic freedoms, especially complete press freedom,” the Paris-based group said on Wednesday.

Thailand’s border with Laos and Myanmar in the north, a strongly pro-Thaksin area, was closed.

In the capital Bangkok, the epicentre of the anti-Thaksin movement, many people seemed relieved. People adorned military vehicles with flowers and some gave soldiers food and drink.

“The revolution ... was not that bad and there was no violence,” said the governor of the Bank of Thailand, Pridiyathorn Devakula. “This change is acceptable to the people, so it should not affect investments.”

A poll of about 2,000 Thais showed more than 80 per cent backed the coup.

Thaksin in london: Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in London on Wednesday for a ‘private’ visit after the military coup in his homeland.

He flew into Gatwick airport from New York, where he had been attending the UN General Assembly when the military coup unfolded in Bangkok.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman in London said Mr Thaksin’s trip would be ‘a private visit. It’s not in an official capacity. We haven’t got details of who will be accompanying him’.—AFP