Thai officials today said they will freeze an additional £75m (€1.5bn) in assets believed to be controlled by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and file a criminal lawsuit against two executives of his defunct party for violating election law.

The Thai military launched a coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tonight, circling his offices with tanks, seizing control of television stations and declaring a provisional authority loyal to the king.