Thai caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's TV statement declaring the country entering the emergency state on Tuesday night was cut off as Thai military is said to have taken hold of the military channels.

Thaksin, in New York to attend UN general assembly, issued the emergency statement around 10:10 p.m. local time (1510GMT) Tuesday on military channel TV9 from the U.S. as a military coup is said to have been launched in Thailand.

"The prime minister with the approval of the cabinet declares serious emergency law in Bangkok from now on" Thaksin Shinawatra said on Channel 9 from New York.

He said he was ordering the transfer of the nation's army chief to work in the prime minister's office, effectively suspending him from his military duties.

The statement was suddenly cut off after airing for about 13 minutes.

Several hundred soldiers were deployed at keys points in the capital of Bangkok.

Army-owned TV channel 5 interrupted regular broadcasts with patriotic music and showed pictures of the king.

Source: Xinhua