Thailand's military seized power from the government and suspended the constitution on Thursday, in moves that amount to the latest in the country's long history of military coups.
The lightening-fast move, two days after the army imposed martial law, has roots in years of impasse between rival political factions since the last coup in 2006. For the past six months, Thailand has seen fierce protests both for and against the government and the armed forces said they felt forced to take over after talks between both sides failed.
Here is how the Thai army seized power this week.
1. Thailand's army imposes martial law on Tuesday.
Thai soldiers stand guard outside a hall of the Army Club in Bangkok, May 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
2. The military convenes talks between political rivals. When they fail, soldiers surround the talks venue on Thursday.
A Thai soldier is reflected in a puddle as he guards a road near a pro-government demonstration site on the outskirts of Bangkok, May 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
3. Army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha then announces a military takeover of government on national television.
Thai and foreign journalists watch the coup announcement by the Thai Armed Forces at the press center at the Army Club in Bangkok, May 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
4. The army imposes a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
A soldier keeps guard in downtown Bangkok on May 22, 2014. (Vinai Dithajohn/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
5. Troops disperse pro-government protest camps.
An anti-government demonstrator cries before leaving a demonstration site after the military seized power, May 22, 2014 in Bangkok. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A Thai soldier helps a pro-government demonstrator carry her belongings while leaving a demonstration on the outskirts of Bangkok, May 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
6. The army tells anti-government protesters to go home.
Thai anti-government protesters celebrate at their camp outside Government House in Bangkok after Thailand's army chief announced that the armed forces were seizing power, May 22, 2014. (CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images)
7. The constitution is suspended.
Buddhist monks walk past an armed Thai soldier as they leave a pro-government demonstration site on the outskirts of Bangkok, May 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
8. The army orders the government to report to a new governing military commission headed by the army chief.
Thai army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha gives a traditional greeting to delegates prior to a meeting at the Army Club in Bangkok, May 20, 2014. (PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images)
9. They order the media to broadcast army programs.
News media report from a downtown Bangkok street as soldiers deploy after the army declares martial law, May 20, 2014. (Rufus Cox/Getty Images)
10. And ban gatherings of five or more people.
A protester looks on as workers remove a roadblock near the Government complex on the outskirts of Bangkok on May 22, 2014. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images)