Yingluck could be held a week

On Saturday, an army spokesman said the military was looking after Yingluck and more than 150 other figures allied with her Puea Thai party currently held in an undisclosed location - and could summon more than 35 additional people, including potentially academic figures. Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has insisted that Thailand must institute broad reforms and achieve stability before democracy is restored.

"We must have economic, social and political reforms before elections," he told hundreds of civil servants on Friday in his first comments on his plans since the coup.

On Friday, Yingluck obeyed a military call to appear at an army base outside Bangkok by midday Friday and was taken by soldiers to the undisclosed location. Yingluck's successor, Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, has also reportedly been detained. The military summoned Thailand's deposed leadership "to keep peace and order and solve the country's problems."

'Return to democracy'

The military has banned gatherings of more than five people, censored media and imposed a 10 p.m to 5 a.m. curfew. On Friday, the army sent troops into Bangkok to clear hundreds of people gathered in a show of opposition to the takeover, chanting slogans and holding banners denouncing the coup.

In response to a domestic law that requires the US to suspend assistance to foreign militaries that overthrow elected governments, the State Department announced Friday that it would cut $3.5 million (2.5 million euros) in aid, one-third of what it gives Thailand, and could consider withholding more money.

"We urge the immediate restoration of civilian rule, a return to democracy and, obviously, respect for human rights during this period of uncertainty," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

Thailand's latest unrest began October 31, when Yingluck announced new amnesty laws that seemed designed to help her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in the last coup, in 2006. Thaksin has lived in self-imposed exile since 2008 to avoid corruption charges.

Since Thailand abandoned absolute monarchy in 1932, the military has staged 12 successful coups. It remains unclear whether the 86-year-old king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, has blessed the current takeover.

mkg/dr (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)