Tanks Withdrawn From Royal Plaza

Tanks withdrawn from Royal Plaza

BANGKOK: -- The Thai junta Sunday rolled their tanks out of the Royal Plaza in central Bangkok where they had taken up position in last week's coup against premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The tanks had been stationed near the king's residence and key government offices, where they became a major attraction for thousands of Thai supporters of the overthrow and hordes of curious tourists.

Of the up to 10 tanks, stationed in two rows and each guarded by four soldiers, only one remained early Sunday, apparantly stranded by a mechanical failure, said an AFP photographer.

Junta spokesman Colonel Acar Tiproj said the tanks had been moved from the symbolic site, although military vehicles and troops remained stationed elsewhere in the capital.

"The situation is under control but we still maintain tanks in some locations in Bangkok," Acar told AFP.

Through the week hundreds of onlookers had greeted the soldiers with flowers and food and by being photographed with the smiling troops in a broad show of support in Bangkok for the overthrow of the divisive premier Thaksin.

-- AFP 2006-09-24