Thailand’s army is detaining former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, cabinet members and anti-government protest leaders for up to a week to give them “time to think”.

If Prayuth Chan-ocha’s decision to stage Thailand’s latest in a long list of coups was as impulsive as he suggests, then the general has a Herculean task managing the fallout and deciding what happens next.

Ousted members of Thailand’s former government have turned themselves in to the country’s new military junta, as soldiers forcefully dispersed hundreds of anti-coup activists who defied a ban on large-scale gatherings.

Thailand’s army chief has just announced a military takeover of the government, saying the coup is necessary to restore stability and order after six months of political deadlock and turmoil.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have marched through the streets of the Thai capital, reviving their whistle-blowing, traffic-blocking campaign to force the resignation of the country’s prime minister.

Anti-government protesters have surrounded the Thai prime minister’s temporary office in Bangkok to demand her resignation a day after clashes with police left at least five people dead.

Gunshots have rung out in the heart of Thailand’s capital in an apparent attack on anti-government protesters that wounded at least two people and increased tensions amid the deepening political crisis.

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been formally charged with murder in connection with the deaths of protesters killed during a crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in 2010.

Thailand’s prime minister has refused to resign ahead of national elections set for February 2, despite opposition demands she step down as the caretaker head of government.

Thailand’s government said today that a general election will be held on February 2.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Ukraine’s capital yesterday, toppling a statue of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin and blockading key government buildings in an escalating stand-off with the president over the future of the country.

Anti-government protesters in Thailand have broken through a gate and forced their way into the prime minister’s office compound as police stood by and watched.

Thailand’s prime minister has rejected the demands of anti-government protesters locked in street battles with police, saying what they want is unacceptable under the constitution.

The United Nations closed its main office in Bangkok, dozens of schools closed and many civil servants stayed away from work as the Thai capital braced for more violence.

Police fought back for the first time on Sunday against protesters trying to overthrow Thailand’s government, firing tear gas and rubber bullets in running battles against rock-throwing mobs who tried to force their way into the prime minister’s sand-bagged office complex.

Protesters vowing to topple Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra took to the streets for a fourth straight day, declaring they would take over “every ministry” of the government.

A former Prime Minister of Thailand has been charged with murder in the latest twist in a political war between supporters and opponents of another ex-leader, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has survived a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Anti-government protesters calling for Thailand's Prime Minister to step down launched a rally in Bangkok today that authorities feared would grow into the biggest demonstration the country has seen since she took office last year.

US President Barack Obama has launched a three-day Southeast Asia tour, hailing alliances with countries such as Thailand as cornerstones of the administration’s deeper commitment to the Asia-Pacific region.

Former chief executive Garry Cook admits he felt he had embarrassed Manchester City supporters with some of the errors he made while at the club.

Thailand has issued a new passport for former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to replace one revoked by the previous government.

Manchester City are beginning the search for a new chief executive after Garry Cook paid the price for an “error of judgement” yesterday.

MANCHESTER CITY chief executive Garry Cook has resigned following an investigation into claims he sent an offensive email to the mother of player Nedum Onuoha.

Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook is at the centre of more unwanted controversy after an e-mail, appearing to be sent by him, went to Nedum Onuoha’s cancer-stricken mum by mistake.

Thai MPs elected Yingluck Shinawatra as the country’s first female prime minister today.

THAILAND’S powerful military will respect a landslide election win by allies of Thaksin Shinawatra, whom it toppled five years ago, according to the defence minister, easing fears of another coup.

The sister of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra today announced an agreement to form a five-party coalition government after her Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in Thailand’s parliamentary elections.

Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has resigned as leader of the outgoing ruling party after its resounding defeat by the party considered a proxy for ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

THAILAND’S opposition won a landslide election victory yesterday, led by the sister of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a triumph for red-shirt protesters who clashed with the army last year.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has conceded his party lost national elections to the opposition led by the sister of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Exit polls in Thailand are showing the party allied to ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has won an absolute majority in the fractious country’s tense election.

GRAFT-BUSTING “Massage Parlour King” Chuwit Kamolvisit must be the only candidate in Thailand’s election who wants to be in opposition — and prefers being labelled a pimp rather than a politician.

The fit and proper person test aimed at preventing unsuitable people becoming owners and directors of football clubs is deeply flawed, according to ex-FA chairman Lord Triesman.

Manchester City 4 Leicester 2

Thailand’s ruling Democrat Party staved off possible dissolution today when a court refused to accept a case accusing it of illegal financing.

Thailand’s ruling Democrat Party survived a legal challenge today which could have seen it dissolved and a new government formed after the Constitutional Court dismissed a charge that it misused an election fund.

RAYMOND WILLIAMS, the Marxist scholar, had an interesting take, not on sport per se, but on people’s attitudes – one that could easily be applied to the non-stop erotic cabaret on offer across the water in the Premier League.

Roberto Mancini wishes Sheikh Mansour was around every week to act as Manchester City’s lucky charm.

Manchester City 3 Liverpool 0

Leicester have been bought by a consortium led by Thai businessman Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn.

Mark Hughes today claimed nobody could have done as good a job at Manchester City as he did during his 18 months in charge.

Several hundred Red Shirt protesters defied a state of emergency in the Thai capital to stage a symbolic protest, with hundreds of people sprawling on the ground and chanting: “People died here!”