Thai army bans groups of more than five people from gathering

Thailand's army has banned gatherings of more than five people, a spokesman said on Thursday, hours after the military staged a coup to oust the government following months of political turmoil.
  
"No gathering can take place anywhere with five people or more ... Anyone who violates this could be liable to not less than one year in prison," deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said in a televised statement.

Thailand's army chief, Prayuth Chan-ocha, will head the military council that is now in charge of the country, a deputy spokesman said earlier.
  
Winthai Suvaree, in a televised statement, said the constitution was being suspended but the Senate upper house and all courts would continue to function.

Thailand's army also ordered protesters from rival political groups on the streets of Bangkok to go home and said the military would provide transport.
  
A Reuters photographer said pro-government "red shirts" had mostly vacated their rally site on the western outskirts of the capital, Bangkok. Another Reuters photographer said rival anti-government protesters did not appear to leaving their central Bangkok rally site in large numbers.

This comes as Thailand's army told all television and radio stations in the country to halt normal programmes and only broadcast army material, shortly after it staged a coup to take over the government after months of political turmoil.
  
"All radio and television stations, satellite and cable, must stop normal programming and broadcast army content until told otherwise," Winthai Suvaree, a deputy army spokesman, said in a televised statement.

Thailand's military also imposed a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. (1500 GMT) to 5 a.m. (2200 GMT) after overthrowing a caretaker government in a coup, an army spokesman said.
  
Deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree announced the curfew in a televised statement.

This comes after Thai soldiers fired into the air to disperse thousands of pro-government, "red shirt" activists gathered at a protest site in Bangkok's western outskirts following a military coup, a protest spokesman said.
  
The military detained at least one leader of the activists, who are loyal to deposed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said the spokesman, Thanawut Wichaidit.
 
Earlier, the leader of Thailand's pro-government "red shirts" said the political group would continue its rally on the outskirts of Bangkok despite the military seizing control of the government in a coup on Thursday and telling all protest groups to disperse.
  
"Will you fight or will you not fight? We will not go anywhere. Don't panic because we expected this," red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan told supporters. "Whatever happens will happen."

International positions:

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday he was "seriously concerned" by the military takeover in Thailand.
  
In a statement, Ban appealed "for a prompt return to constitutional, civilian, democratic rule and an all-inclusive dialogue that will pave the way for long-term peace and prosperity in Thailand."
 
Earlier, the United Nations human rights office voiced deep concern at the Thai army coup and said that martial law and military orders being imposed may infringe on fundamental freedoms.
  
"We remind the authorities of Thailand's obligations under international human rights law...which strictly limit the application of emergency powers. We urge the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the fundamental human rights are respected," U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said.

In turn, the Pentagon said it was reviewing its military assistance and engagements with Thailand after Thailand's army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized control of the government.
  
Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said that included an ongoing drill in Thailand, which involves some 700 U.S. Marines and sailors.
  
"Here in the Department (of Defense) we're reviewing our military-to-military assistance and engagements," Warren said, noting the ongoing exercises. "And we'll let you know when we've decided something."