In the previous weeks Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin had clashed with Thaksin over charges of corruption against the government and its handling of an insurgency in the mostly Malay Muslim provinces in southern Thailand. The country is 94 percent Buddhist.

The generals quickly received the backing of Thailand's king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, the official head of state. Within hours of the coup the king appeared on television in an audience with General Sondhi.

Washington and several of its imperialist allies condemned the coup. White House press secretary Anthony Snow said the United States was "disappointed," and that talks with Bangkok on a free trade agreement were in jeopardy. The U.S. government suspended $24 million in military aid, maintaining another $10 million.

Thaksin was overthrown while on a trip to address the United Nations General Assembly. In April he was forced to step aside due to huge street protests but continued to act as a "caretaker" until new elections were to be held in mid-October. Corruption charges by his opponents gained credence after his family's tax-free sale of its $1.9 billion share in a giant telecommunications company.

The military has established several “anti-corruption” panels to investigate alleged wrongdoing of the Thaksin government. The former prime minister's family is one of the wealthiest in Southeast Asia.

The military said it would return authority to a civilian government within a few weeks. General Sondhi said the ruling military council had completed drafting an interim constitution and would name a new prime minister soon, according to the Associated Press.

Former army chief Surayud Chulanont was expected to be tapped for the position, according to press reports.

Successive governments in Bangkok have attempted to crush unrest in three southern provinces where Malay Muslims make up 80 percent of the population. Leaders of Muslim organizations in southern Thailand expressed hope that the ouster of Thaksin could lead to an easing of the conflict in these provinces, where 1,700 people have been killed since 2004.

Two months before the coup Thaksin was stunned by General Sondhi's public call for a dialogue in the three provinces with insurgents, who the government has labeled "terrorists." The general had been given control of counterinsurgency measures in the region. He is the first Muslim to head Thailand's military.

"The ouster of Thaksin should make the situation in the South better," said Waedueramae Mamingji, chairman of the Pattani Islamic Committee. Pattani is one of the majority-Muslim southern provinces along with Yala and Narathiwat.

The new military-installed government is expected to implement reforms recently issued by the National Reconciliation Commission, set up to find solutions to the insurgency. Its recommendations include use of the Malay language for official documents, the partial use of Islamic shariah law, and including more Muslims in local administrations.  
 
 
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