(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Australians in Thailand are being urged to use extreme caution and register their travel plans.
Several countries have expressed concern about the latest developments in a country that some experts fear - is on the brink of an unprecedented political nightmare.
Greg Navarro reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Sydney tourist Lee Cox is off to Thailand and says he won't be put off by the military coup.
"Reporter: Any concerns at this point? Cox: No not really, not really I'll probably be asleep by about 10 oclock anyway."
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has a much different view of the Thai army's move to seize power.
"We are gravely concerned by this regrettable development that a coup has been declared that the military chief has assumed all government functions."
Thailand's Ambassador in Canberra was summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs to hear Australia's concerns.
Earlier in the day Foreign Minister Julie Bishop expressed her concern for the safety of the more than 28,000 Australians in Thailand, including about 10,000 in Bangkok.
"The situation is very volatile and we urge australians who are in thailand to exercise a very high level of caution at this time."
That includes registering their travel plans.
John Blaxland is a senior fellow at the Australian National University.
"I think the foreign minister is quite right in urging caution certainly if there is any prospect of any gathering a mass gathering of red shirts or protesters - Australians should steer clear."
Thailand's latest military coup follows months of political unrest - and is being watched closely around the world - including by the United Nations.
UN spokeswoman Stephane Dujarric.
"The Secretary General is seriously concerned by the military takeover in Thailand today. He appeals for a prompt return to constitutional civilian democratic rule."
US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki says the United States has condemned the military takeover.
"We are reviewing our military and other assistance to Thailand, and we've taken preliminary steps to suspend military engagement and assistance while we consider the facts on the ground. This is a standard part of the process that would take place, so right now there is a comprehensive review going on."
While the coup has been bloodless, John Blaxland says Thailand has the potential for the kind of violence last seen in 2010 when almost 100 people were killed.
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