As soldiers took up positions in key parts of Bangkok, the military denied it was staging a coup and urged rival political groups to come together and talk.
Thai Army Declares Martial Law, But Says It’s Not a Coup
![Thai Army Chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha greets other officers upon his arrival at an army club for a meeting with high ranking officials after declaring martial law, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 20, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/82a03bdc-dc44-4b1a-9a60-f1a5b9856390_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Thai Army Chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha greets other officers upon his arrival at an army club for a meeting with high ranking officials after declaring martial law, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 20, 2014.
![A Thai soldier guards the Government House compound of the prime minister's office, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 20, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/632c294c-8245-48b1-b8aa-121a398bcc27_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A Thai soldier guards the Government House compound of the prime minister's office, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 20, 2014.
![Thai soldiers take their positions in the middle of a main intersection in Bangkok's shopping district May 20, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/18dc6421-9097-43fa-9f1a-0edcca689ce5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Thai soldiers take their positions in the middle of a main intersection in Bangkok's shopping district May 20, 2014.
![Commuters drive their motorcycles past Thai soldiers positioned in the middle of a main intersection in the shopping district, in Bangkok, May 20, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/2966ab52-f52d-4336-8c43-aac3e69716ab_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Commuters drive their motorcycles past Thai soldiers positioned in the middle of a main intersection in the shopping district, in Bangkok, May 20, 2014.
![Thai soldiers check a taxi near the site where pro-government "red shirt" supporters gather, in the suburbs of Bangkok, May 20, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/78b0f842-b90e-4065-aab9-89cb21c64322_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Thai soldiers check a taxi near the site where pro-government "red shirt" supporters gather, in the suburbs of Bangkok, May 20, 2014.
![A Thai soldier stands atop a military vehicle outside the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) after soldiers were sent in to seize the center, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 20, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/52282e69-4a48-4aa7-ab6b-951c57ad56d5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A Thai soldier stands atop a military vehicle outside the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) after soldiers were sent in to seize the center, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 20, 2014.