Thailand: Update, Military Coup in Progress

This is a short diary but something is happening in Thailand.  Tanks are in the streets of Bangkok and blocking off the central Bank.  The Prime Minister is in Trouble (also he controls the largest media group in Thailand).

Lots of stuff to follow as updates but here is the first reuters article below the fold.

http://today.reuters.com/...

"More than 10 tanks blocked roads around Thailand's government headquarters in Bangkok on Tuesday, Reuters witnesses said, and Army television broadcast images of the royal family and songs associated in the past with military coups.

Government officials said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in the middle of a political crisis fomented by a street campaign against him, planned to return from New York on Thursday, a day earlier than scheduled. They gave no reason."

Update 1 Background: There is an election coming up and the current PM has said he will step down as PM if his party wins but remain leader of his party (this is seen as remaining PM in everyway but name) The article describing this development is here: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/15555816.htm

Update 2 PM has declared a state of Emergency http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-09-19T152443Z_01_BKK255 234_RTRUKOC_0_US-THAILAND-TANKS-NEWS1.xml no details why yet

How many Western Tourists are in Thailand at this point? If this is what it might be, a military coup, 100, 000's of people may be rushing home.

Update 3: This is moving really quickly so please read comments for more updates since I have to go. Also I recommend the BBC for it's network of people in Thailand as well as for it's good web coverage so far.