Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday announced a military coup two days after putting the country under martial law.
Gen Prayuth said the armed forces decided to take control of the country to ensure peace and order.
The decision came after the army took all key players at Thursday's seven-party meeting from the Army Club to the nearby 1st Division, King's Guard. All except the representatives of the Senate and Election Commission were taken by vans guarded by humvees to the barracks.
They were representatives of the caretaker government led by Chaikasem Nitisiri, People's Democratic Reform Committee led by Suthep Thaugsuban, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship led by Jatuporn Prompan, the Pheu Thai Party led by Pol Lt-Gen Viroj Pao-in and the Democrat Party of Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The army, Supreme Command, air force, navy and national police decided to take control of the country to prevent violence, Gen Prayuth said in his first announcement.
To restore peace, the army, Supreme Command, navy, air force and police have seized power from Thursday, Gen Prayuth said.
The country now is under the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council, he added.
All seven parties involved in the political crisis returned to the meeting for the second day on Thursday after the first crisis talks went nowhere.
Acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan reiterated his position earlier at the Commerce Ministry that he will not resign.
Photo by Post Photographers.