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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| US imposes sanctions on Thailand | US imposes sanctions on Thailand |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The United States has imposed sanctions against Thailand in response to the military coup which ousted civilian Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. | The United States has imposed sanctions against Thailand in response to the military coup which ousted civilian Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. |
| The move involves cutting off $24m (£12.8m) in military assistance, according to the US state department. | The move involves cutting off $24m (£12.8m) in military assistance, according to the US state department. |
| The US has urged the ruling generals to call elections as soon as possible. | The US has urged the ruling generals to call elections as soon as possible. |
| Last week's coup has been widely welcomed in Thailand, but it has been condemned by most Western governments as a step backwards. | Last week's coup has been widely welcomed in Thailand, but it has been condemned by most Western governments as a step backwards. |
| State department spokesman Sean McCormack said the aid cut involved military education and training, peacekeeping operations and counter-terrorism. | State department spokesman Sean McCormack said the aid cut involved military education and training, peacekeeping operations and counter-terrorism. |
| Funding for humanitarian purposes would however continue, he said. | |
| POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FOR PM Supachai Panitchpakdi, former World Trade Organisation chiefChatumongol Sonakul, former central bank chief, sacked by Mr ThaksinPridiyathorn Devakula, central bank chiefAckaratorn Chularat, president of Supreme Administrative Court | |
| "The United States continues to urge a rapid return to democratic rule and early elections in Thailand," said Mr McCormack, adding that funds would be reinstated once an elected government was in office. | "The United States continues to urge a rapid return to democratic rule and early elections in Thailand," said Mr McCormack, adding that funds would be reinstated once an elected government was in office. |
| Thailand's military rulers said on Thursday they had selected a new prime minister who would serve until the promised elections in October 2007. | |
| But they did not reveal their choice and they refused to say when they would lift martial law and pull troops off the streets. | |
| Important ally | |
| Thailand is a key US diplomatic and non-Nato ally and has played an important role in the US "war on terror" following the 11 September 2001 attacks. | |
| Hambali, the alleged operations chief of South East Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah, was arrested in Thailand in 2003. | |
| The coup was staged on 19 September while the prime minister was in New York, attending the UN General Assembly. | |
| The military overthrow followed months of growing tension in Thailand, with protests against Mr Thaksin and a general election which was annulled because of concerns about its legitimacy. |