Thai military discusses crisis; no coup -- for now

By Nopporn Wong-Anan

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The top brass of Thailand's military has ruled out a takeover to resolve the political crisis engulfing the nation -- for now, the military chief told Reuters on Saturday.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is facing a three-month-old campaign to drive him from power. Thousands of anti-government activists have barricaded themselves in his official compound for the past 12 days and refuse to move until he quits.

"Nobody is thinking about launching a coup now. That's not an option," Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit said in a telephone interview. "That door is closed."

He added: "But if it drags on like this and people keep telling the army to launch a coup, I don't know what will happen."

Boonsrang, who is due to retire at the end of the month, said he met chiefs of the army, navy and air force on Friday and discussed the crisis that has paralysed Samak's government.

He said the chiefs debated various options, but he declined to elaborate.

Samak, who is also defence minister, has offered to hold a referendum on his seven-month rule, but the activists of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have rejected the offer.

Analysts say the offer makes it harder to force his removal through intervention either by the military or by revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has stepped into disputes in the past.