Thai army chief urges all parties to stop talking about coup

BANGKOK, December 21 (TNA) - Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday called for all parties to stop talking about the possibility of a military coup, insisting that the military does not take side in the ongoing political strife. Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Defence Council, chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, General Prayuth acknowledged he told the caretaker prime minister that the military would fully perform duties under its jurisdiction. The army chief stressed that all parties should stop talking about a military intervention, but they had better take necessary steps to reduce the ongoing political tension and to minimise their differences with sincerity, while avoid instigating the situation. Asked to comment on the possibility to postpone the new election date from February 2, 2014, the army commander–in-chief suggested that all concerned parties should discuss the issue with the Election Commission of Thailand (EC), as it has nothing to do with the military. (TNA)