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)
1
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)
2
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)
3
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)
4
Commuters drive their motorcycles past Thai soldiers positioned in the middle of a main intersection in the shopping district, in Bangkok, May 20, 2014.