Thailand's coup leaders say they are dissolving the country's senate and will assume all lawmaking power.
Saturday's announcement, which was read out on television, strips away the last democratic institution in the country two days after the military seized power.
The junta suspended the constitution and dissolved the lower house of parliament on Thursday. It had left the senate in place, presumably in hopes the upper house might later approve some of its measures and provide a vestige of democracy. The reason for Saturday's about-face was not known.
The military says it took power to prevent more turmoil in Thailand's protracted political deadlock, which pits supporters of the elected populist government against establishment-backed protesters who accuse the deposed government of corruption. It's the country's 12th coup in eight decades.
Canada condemns coup
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird on the Thai army's seizure of power:
"This decision violates Thailand's democratic principles and stands in stark contrast to the Army's earlier assurances that its role would be limited to securing public order.
"We hope and expect the Thai military will return Thailand to civilian rule as soon as possible, respect democratic processes and the rule of law, ensure freedom of expression and assembly, and guarantee due process for those who have been detained."
Also on Saturday, coup leaders said that they would keep former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, cabinet members and anti-government protest leaders detained for up to a week to give them "time to think" and to keep the country calm. Outspoken academics were also summoned to report to the junta.
The moves appear aimed at preventing any political leaders or other high-profile figures from rallying opposition to the military, which seized power after months of sometimes violent street protests.
For a second day, hundreds of anti-coup protesters defied the military's ban on large gatherings, shouting slogans and waving signs Saturday outside a Bangkok cinema before moving on to Victory Monument, a major city landmark about 9 kilometres away.
The demonstrators briefly confronted rows of soldiers and police who were lined up with riot shields on a road leading to the monument, with a few scuffles breaking out before most of the protesters broke away. They were later seen streaming onto the Skytrain elevated public transport, on which they apparently rode over police lines to the monument.
By late afternoon, about 500 demonstrators had gathered at Victory Monument. Army and police presence was low key.
Most of Bangkok, however, remained calm on Saturday, and there was little military presence on the streets.
A Thai soldier stands guard while Buddhist monks beg for alms in Bangkok. Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha summoned ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to a meeting on Friday, a day after he seized power in a bloodless coup. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)
Deputy army spokesman Col. Weerachon Sukondhapatipak said that all those detained by the junta were being well-treated and that the aim of the military was to achieve a political compromise.
"This is in a bid for everybody who is involved in the conflict to calm down and have time to think," Weerachon said. "We don't intend to limit their freedom, but it is to relieve the pressure."
The military leaders also summoned 35 other people, including more politicians, political activists and, for the first time, outspoken academics, to "maintain peace and order." It was not immediately clear whether they would be detained.
'Crudest form of authoritarianism'
One of those on the list, Kyoto University professor of Southeast Asian studies Pavin Chachavalpongpun, said by phone from Japan that he would not turn himself in. He said the summons meant the junta felt insecure.
"The military claiming to be a mediator in the Thai conflict, that is all just nonsense," he said. "This is not about paving the way for reform and democratization. We are really going back to the crudest form of authoritarianism."
The United States, a key ally of Thailand, suspended $3.5 million US in military aid on Friday, and State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Washington was reviewing a further $7 million in direct U.S. assistance. The U.S. also recommended Americans reconsider any non-essential travel to Thailand.
The army says it launched the coup to prevent more turmoil after two days of peace talks in which neither political faction would agree to back down from its stance in the ongoing crisis. It was the 12th time in eight decades that Thailand's powerful military has seized power.
Thai Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said he had to act to restore stability. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)
For months, anti-government protesters linked to Thailand's royalist establishment had blocked streets in Bangkok, demanding that the government step down over allegations of corruption and ties to Yingluck's brother, exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was himself deposed in a 2006 military coup.
Populist parties affiliated with the Shinawatras have won every election since 2001 in Thailand. Thaksin still wields enormous influence over the country's political affairs and remains at the heart of the ongoing crisis.
The protesters have been demanding that the government resign in favour of an unelected council, while the government said it was elected by a clear majority in 2010 and could not step down. An election was held in February, but it was invalidated by a court after violence disrupted voting.
Political leaders detained
It was unclear Saturday exactly how many political leaders were being detained by the army.
Among the officials who showed up at an army compound in Bangkok on Friday were Yingluck, who was removed from office by a court earlier this month on nepotism charges, and her temporary replacement, Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, according to Yingluck's aide Wim Rungwattanachinda.
There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Thailand. However, travellers should exercise a high degree of caution due to ongoing large-scale political demonstrations in Bangkok and elsewhere in the country.
There have been multiple incidents of violence associated with these protests, which have resulted in injuries and fatalities, including in areas adjacent to popular tourist sites and commercial centres in Bangkok. The risk of further violence remains high.
Several Cabinet members as well as leaders of the anti-government protests have been held since Thursday's coup.
Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang, an outspoken critic of the military's intervention in politics, remained in hiding. Chaturon said in a Facebook post that the coup would only worsen the country's political atmosphere. He vowed not to turn himself in, but said he would not resist arrest.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged Thailand to "ensure respect for human rights and a prompt restoration of the rule of law in the country." Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, criticized the detentions of political leaders.
"The regime must immediately clarify a legal basis for this move and where they are. No one should be detained on the basis for their peaceful political opinions or affiliations," said Richard Bennett, Amnesty's Asia-Pacific director.
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