Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army chief, has declared a coup to prevent further loss of life and prevent the conflict from further escalating.
The Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC) has now seized power from the caretaker government, Gen Prayuth announced on national television.
Gen Prayuth said this was necessary to restore the situation.
All government agencies are to continue working normally. No weapons movements are allowed. Foreign relations are not affected, he said.
It is the 12th military coup d'etat in Thailand since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.
