Indians in Thailand safe : Govt.

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) ''The Indian community in Thailand is safe,'' the External Affairs Ministry said today.

There are about 85,000 Indians in the South-Eastern Asian nation.

In a cautious reaction to the developments in Thailand, where the military took over power last night, the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that India had noted the evolving situation and the commitment of the 'Administrative Reforms Council' to return power to the people at the earliest.

The statement said New Delhi attached great importance to its relations with Thailand, a country with which India has ancient civilisational affinities, friendship and cooperation.

''We have noted the evolving situation in Thailand and the commitment of the 'Administrative Reforms Council' to return power to the people at the earliest. The Indian Community in Thailand is safe. We attach great importance to our relations with Thailand, a country with which India has ancient civilisational affinities and strong bonds of friendship and cooperation,'' the statement added.

Last night, Thailand's military, in a bloodless coup, overthrew the country's elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra amid mounting criticism that he had undermined democracy.

After the midnight coup, the military said it would soon return power to a democratic government but did not say when.

UNI RB VD KP1752