A British government spokesman said Thaksin had no meetings scheduled with Prime Minister Tony Blair or other officials.

In New York, a Thai business executive who said he was speaking on behalf of Thaksin said the toppled leader was not resigned to his fate.

"The prime minister has not given up his power," said Tom Kruesopon, chief executive officer of Boon Rawd Trading International Co., who said he was traveling with Thaksin.

But Thaksin's official government spokesman, Surapong Suebwonglee, also traveling with him, was gloomier. "We have to accept what happened," he said. "We are not coming back soon."

Bangkok, a city of more than 10 million, was calm Wednesday. Most stores were open and residents appeared unfazed, with traffic running as normal and the tanks becoming popular tourist attractions.

About 500 people gathered outside army headquarters to lend moral support to the military, chanting "Thaksin get out!"

But in the first sign of anti-coup sentiment, Thaksin supporters faced off with rival groups celebrating the coup at two separate gatherings in Bangkok. Soldiers intervened, narrowly averting clashes.

The council put the country under martial law and declared a provisional authority loyal to the king, seizing television and radio stations and ordering government offices, banks, schools and the stock market to close for the day.

The unexpected coup rattled Asian financial markets. Thai central bank head Pridiyathorn Devakula said the coup was unlikely to have much impact on investor confidence and that the Thai baht had recovered from an overnight low without intervention.

Nearly 20 tanks — their machine gun barrels festooned with ribbons in the royal color of yellow — had blocked off the Royal Palace, Royal Plaza, army headquarters and Thaksin's office at Government House.

In the afternoon, the tanks began shifting from positions in downtown Bangkok. It was not immediately clear whether the tanks were withdrawing, or merely changing positions. Government public relations officials said they could not immediately comment.

The Nation newspaper in Bangkok said several senior government officials and others close to Thaksin had been arrested, their fates unknown.

It said they included Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit and Thaksin's top aide Prommin Lertsuridej.

Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, one of Thaksin's closest political associates, fled to Paris with her family, it said.

In Washington, State Department said there was "no justification" for the coup.

"We are disappointed by this action," deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. "It is a step backward for democracy."