20/09/2006

Britons in Thailand warned to take care

Britons in Thailand are being warned by the Foreign Office to take care, following a military coup to oust the country's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Martial law was declared in Thailand following Tuesday's coup, which took place while Mr Shinawatra was in New York for a United Nations meeting.

Those behind the coup are loyal to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Their leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, is reported to have told a news conference that a new prime minister would be named within the next two weeks.

The coup is believed to have been bloodless, and the streets in Bangkok were reported to be quiet on Wednesday.

The Foreign Office has warned any UK nationals in Thailand to avoid any large crowds or demonstrations.

It is not advising against travel to the country, but urged any travellers intending to go to Thailand to check with their tour operator before travelling.

A statement on the Foreign Office website said: "The British Embassy in Bangkok is closely monitoring the situation. If you are currently in Bangkok, you should avoid moving around the city."

British Airways said that its flights to Bangkok were operating as normal and travel agent Thomas Cook also reported that they were operating as normal, saying that the main holiday resorts remained unaffected by the coup.

(KMcA/EF)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 April 2010
Britons Urged To Avoid Thailand
UK travellers have been warned against all but "non-essential visits" to the whole of Thailand in the midst of ongoing political demonstrations in the Thai capital, (pictured). This warning by The Department of Foreign Affairs follows demonstrations in the Thai capital that "have been marked by violence, death, and injury.
22 January 2013
Lindsay Sandiford Sentenced To Death In Bali
A 56-year-old Linda Sandiford, found guilty of drug trafficking in Indonesia, has been sentenced to death. Bali police arrested the British grandmother in May 2012 after the discovery of 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine in the lining of her suitcase following a routine customs check.
26 November 2008
British Tourists Stranded At Thai Airport
Hundreds of British tourists are believed to have been left stranded at Thailand's main international airport in Bangkok, after anti-government protestors occupied the building. According to reports, at least 3,000 passengers are stranded at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
09 March 2005
British man murdered in Thailand
A British man was stabbed to death in a tourist area in southern Thailand last night. Richard Mark Collins, 35, from Hereford, was murdered in the tourist town of Krabi on Tuesday night. He is understood to have been stabbed twice and was taken to hospital, where he later died. A 29-year-old taxi driver, Uthen Duangnoi, has been arrested.
09 April 2004
Britons warned against travel to southern Thailand
Britons have been warned not to travel to southern Thailand as there is a threat to British and other Western targets from terrorists, the Foreign Office has said.