More than 1000 Thai anti-coup protesters have marched across the capital Bangkok as opposition to a military takeover of the country gathered strength, despite junta warnings to end rallies.
Protesters shouting "Get Out!" made their way across the city cheered by onlookers, a reporter at the scene said, after a tense standoff with armed soldiers in the city's retail heart as demonstrations swelled to the largest expression of dissent since the army seized power on Thursday.
Soldiers arrested at least three protesters, injuring one, after hundreds gathered at Ratchadamri Road in central Bangkok.
The soldiers retreated and regrouped after finding themselves outnumbered. Their momentary withdrawal was greeted with cheers and more shouts of "Get out!".
More demonstrators arrived at the scene after news and video of the arrests circulated on social media, prompting troops to retreat temporarily to avoid a larger confrontation.
The protesters then marched toward Victory Monument, where a similar protest had taken place on Saturday, witnesses said.
There was no sign of the military or police on the streets, despite an earlier junta statement calling on people not to protest, and rules under martial law banning gatherings of more than five people.
"We want to create confidence in Thailand's stability in the eyes of the international community," National Peace and Order Maintaining Council spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree said in a televised broadcast.
The statement followed a protest of several hundred people in Bangkok on Saturday that led to a standoff with soldiers and police, but no violence.
The military has detained former premier Yingluck Shinawatra and scores of other ousted government leaders and political figures following the coup, which has provoked sharp international criticism.
Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power with a coup d'etat on Thursday and placed the country under martial law, detaining at least 150 politicians, activists and scholars over the past three days.
On Saturday, the junta dissolved the Senate, strengthening Prayuth's legislative powers as sole ruler of the country.
"He wants to consolidate power in order to handle the security situation," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University.
After Thailand's last coup in 2006, the military was quick to appoint a prime minister and set up an interim government to run the country, but Prayuth has not yet announced a schedule for doing so.
"This is a different situation from 2006, because the military is facing a much more diverse and well-organised opposition," Panitan said.
"In the end, the military may be in power longer than expected.
The coup has drawn criticism from the United Nations and Thailand's close allies such as the EU and US.
The US military announced the cancellation of joint exercises with Thailand after cancelling $US3.5 million ($A3.79 million) in military assistance on Friday.
Share
