White House spokesman Tony Snow also registered disappointment. "We hope those who mounted it make good and make good swiftly on their (promise) to restore democracy," Snow said as President Bush returned to Washington from a speech and meetings at the United Nations.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard described the coup as a "great disappointment," adding that it was a reminder of an element of Asia's past he had hoped would not return. "We condemn military coups," Howard said. "They are a throwback to a past I had hoped Asia had emerged from."

Japan also called for the quick restoration of democracy in a country where many of its top businesses have factories and affiliates.

The European Union joined condemnation of the coup and said "the military forces stand back and give way to the democratically elected political government."

China described the coup as "an internal affair of Thailand" and made no public judgment. "The friendly relations between China and Thailand will continue to develop," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

The International Monetary Fund, which bailed Thailand and some of its neighbors out of a financial crisis in the late 1990s, was closely watching the situation but believed the region would be little affected, said the IMF's chief, Rodrigo de Rato.

"Thailand's economy is fundamentally strong," de Rato said.

The U.S. Embassy, in an e-mail to its citizens living in Thailand, said while there had been no reports of violence, Americans should "monitor the situation closely, avoid any large gatherings and exercise discretion when moving about the city."

"At this point, we are not advising Americans to leave Thailand; however, Americans planning to travel to Thailand may wish to carefully consider their options before traveling until the situation becomes clearer," the e-mail read.

Britain told its citizens in Thailand to stay in their homes, while Japan, Australia and Canada similarly advised caution.

Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon, handily won three general elections since coming to power in 2001 and enjoyed great support among the rural poor for his populist policies.

But he alienated the urban middle class, intellectuals and pro-democracy activists. They began mass street demonstrations last year, charging him with abuse of power, corruption and emasculation of democratic institutions, including media that were once among Asia's freest.

The bloodless coup was the first overt military intervention in Thailand since 1991, when Suchinda Kraprayoon, a general, toppled a civilian government in a bloodless takeover. He was ousted in 1992 following street demonstrations.

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Associated Press Writers Jill Lawless in London and Elaine Kurtenbach in Singapore contributed to this report.