In his statement, Thaksin said he was planning to work on research and development and possible charitable work for the country.

"The event in Thailand during the past two days should not detract from my main aim of national reconciliation," Thaksin said.

It was not known whether he would seek to stay in London, where he has a residence, or return to Thailand, where he could face prosecution for corruption.

"I haven't talked to him directly but judging from what I learned from seniors of our party, I don't think he will return in the near future," said Sansasee Nakphong, former spokeswoman for Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party.

Sondhi has said he would serve as de facto prime minister for two weeks and then the junta, which calls itself the Council of Administrative Reform, will choose a civilian to replace him. A constitution is to be drawn up and elections held in one year's time.

The military leader received the imprimatur Wednesday of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which should effectively quash any efforts at resistance by Thaksin's partisans.

The coup-makers continued their purge of the fallen leader's loyalists, bringing in two cabinet ministers for questioning Thursday.

Akara Thiproj, the army spokesman, said Newin Chidchob and Yongyuth Tiyapairat were being interrogated at the National Security Center and others have been "invited" to come. Earlier the Council for Administrative Reform said that Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit and Thaksin's top aide Prommin Lertsuridej had been detained.

The Nation newspaper on Thursday published a 100-name "watch list" of additional politicians, business people and others close to Thaksin who could be investigated by the new power brokers.

The junta empowered Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka to investigative government corruption, which could lead to the confiscation of Thaksin's assets. Jaruvan, dubbed "The Iron Lady" was one of the few government officials who tried to expose corruption during Thaksin's regime and would have lost her job if it had not been for backing from the palace.

The Office of the Auditor-General announced Wednesday it would continue its investigation into 14 cases of alleged corruption that occurred during Thaksin's tenure.

The U.S. government believes Thailand's first coup in 15 years is "a step backward for democracy," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.

The European Union demanded "that the military forces stand back and give way to the democratically elected political government." Other Western governments have issued similar statements.

Thaksin's ouster followed a series of missteps that prompted many to accuse the prime minister of challenging the king's authority - an unpardonable act in this traditional Southeast Asian nation, a popular vacation destination for Westerners.

Many Thais appeared relieved at the resolution of political tensions festering since the beginning of the year, when street demonstrations demanding Thaksin step down for alleged corruption and abuse of power gained momentum.

Thailand has had no working legislature and only a caretaker government since February, when Thaksin dissolved parliament to hold new elections in an effort to reaffirm his mandate.

The presence of tanks and armed soldiers on the streets of Bangkok, a city of more than 10 million, was taken with good humor in an almost holiday atmosphere.

The bloodless nature of the coup gave hope that the effects on Thailand's large tourist industry might be minimal.

Schools, government offices and the stock market were closed Wednesday but reopened Thursday when Bangkok's notorious traffic jams reared up with a vengeance and daily life returned to normal.

Although Thaksin handily won three general elections, opponents accused him of emasculating democratic institutions, including packing the state Election Commission with cronies and stifling media that were once among Asia's freest.

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