A COUP IN THAILAND?

Armoured units of the Thai military blocked the area around Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s offices with tanks, witnesses said today.

Rumours of a military coup swept the Thai capital after an army-owned television station suspended regular programming and played patriotic songs.

On a government-owned TV station, Thaksin – now abroad on a visit to New York – declared a state of emergency.

Newley Purnell is posting lots of news. He emails that he’s in Kuala Lumpur right now but will be heading to Thailand shortly.

UPDATE: More from Paul Lukacs. Excerpt: “The city of Chiang Mai, in the north, appears unaffected. I am in an internet cafe surrounded by the usual complement of teenagers playing video games. I don’t think most of them know.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: Much more in this roundup from Pajamas Media.