Thai Leader Flying to Britain After Coup at Home

泰领导人在国内政变后飞往英国

Thailand's ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is on his way to Britain after a military coup in his country. Mr. Thaksin was deposed by the army Tuesday while he was in New York for the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. Britain's Foreign Office says the Thai leader will be in London on a private visit, and will not have any meetings with government officials.

Before leaving New York today Wednesday, Mr. Thaksin said he never expected the military would stage a coup. But he indicated he will not try to cling to power.

In Bangkok, the man who engineered the coup - Army Chief General Sondhi Boonyaratglin - said Mr. Thaksin's overthrow was necessary to resolve conflict and bring normalcy back to the country. He would not directly answer questions about whether Mr. Thaksin's assets will be confiscated or whether the prime minister will be prosecuted for alleged corruption. Sondhi said King Bhumipol Adulyadej has authorized him to lead the government until a new caretaker administration is formed in two weeks. The general pledged that new elections will be held by October of 2007.

泰国被推翻的他信总理，在国内发生军事政变后，正在前往英国途中。他信星期二在纽约参加联合国大会年度会议期间，被泰国陆军发动的政变推翻。英国外交部表示，这位泰国领导人将以私人访问形式到伦敦，不会与任何英国官员会面。

他信星期三离开纽约之前说，他从来没有想到军方会发动政变，但是他表示，他不会把住权力不放。

在曼谷，指挥军事政变的泰国陆军总司令颂提表示，推翻他信对于解决冲突，让泰国恢复正常是必要的。他没有直接回答他信的财产是否会被没收，或是这位总理是否会因腐败指称而遭到起诉。颂提说，泰国国王普密蓬已经授权他领导政府，直到两星期内新的看守政府组成为止。颂提保证说，新的选举会在2007年10月前举行。