Australian Prime Minister John Howard described the coup as a "great disappointment," adding it was a reminder of an element of Asia's past he had hoped would not return.

"We condemn military coups," he said. "They are a throwback to a past I had hoped Asia had emerged from."

Japan also called for the quick restoration of democracy in a country where many top Japanese businesses have factories and affiliates.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We are monitoring the development with serious concern," said Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was "shocked" by the coup, while Indonesia said it was watching developments in Thailand "with great concern."

Pakistan, whose President General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, was also "watching the situation with concern."

China, however, described the coup as "an internal affair" and made no public judgment. "The friendly relations between China and Thailand will continue to develop," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

The Asian Human Rights Commission joined international civil liberties groups including US-based Freedom House and Human Rights Watch in condemning the coup.

"The Royal Thai Army must immediately renounce power and allow for a return to a caretaker civilian government by the most effective and expedient means possible," the commission founded by prominent jurists and human rights activists said in a statement.

It also called on the UN General Assembly in New York and the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva - both in session - to unconditionally condemn the coup and also call for the restoration of civilian government.

In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said the government was concerned about events in Thailand.

"Our general approach would be that we wish to see a return to democracy as quickly as possible," he said.

The European Union demanded "that the military forces stand back and give way to the democratically elected political government."

"The presidency of the EU condemns the takeover of power from the democratic government of Thailand by the Thai military forces," the EU said in a statement.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau called on Thais "to rediscover the path of a return to constitutional, legal and democratic order, through a peaceful solution."

In Washington, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said it was "really too early to form any hardened judgments." The US State Department said officials "are monitoring the situation with concern." ASSOCIATED PRESS