Coup rumors widely spread in Thailand: Xinhua+
Sep 19 11:10 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ Coup rumors were widely spread Tuesday night after the 3rd and 5th Army areas moved their four battalions out, China's official Xhinhua News Agency reported, quoting a military source.

But officers from the two army areas were quoted as saying the forces were moved to be stationed in the three southern border provinces as part of personnel rotation there.

The 31st Infantry Regimen also moved out its personnel as part of the rotation with soldiers in the deep South, officers was quoted by the Thai multimedia group the Nation as saying.

The 23rd and 24th Cavalry Battalions and the Second Cavalry Division also moved out their personnel to rotate with soldiers at the Pha Muang Task Force in Phetchabun Province, Xinhua reported.

Some officers said the massive movements of the soldiers apparently led to the coup rumors, according to the Nation.

Red Alert: Thailand - Military Movement in Bangkok

The Thai military moved tanks around government headquarters in
Bangkok the evening of Sept. 19 as part of an apparent army coup.
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in New York, and he will
not be able to return until some sort of compromise has been made.
Thaksin tried to make a statement on television regarding a state
of emergency, but the programming was interrrupted to show pictures
of Thai royalty while songs associated with former military coups
played in the background.

The tanks moved in shortly after Thaksin issued a state of
emergency and ordered army Commander in Chief Sondhi Boonyaratkalin
to report to Deputy Prime Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Wannasathit.
It is unclear whether this is an attempted coup, preventative
military action or a countercoup.

Meanwhile, things are relatively calm in Bankgkok. No soldiers have
been patrolling the streets, no curfew has been declared and the
airport is open.