Thai fin min says no longer in job after coup

SINGAPORE, Sep 20 (Reuters) Thanong Bidaya, who served as Thailand's finance minister under the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, said today he was no longer in the job after Thai armed forces seized power.

''I'm sorry I'm not in a position to say anything. I am not minister any more,'' he told reporters.

''I have no more responsibilities,'' he said, adding he was trying to arrange a flight back to Thailand after attending International Monetary Fund meetings in Singapore.

He said he had not been in contact with Thaksin and he did not know his whereabouts. A senior Thai official said yesterday that Thaksin was due to leave New York later in the day for an undisclosed location.

Thailand's armed forces seized power in Bangkok late yesterday, dismissed Thaksin's government, revoked the constitution and promised a swift return to democracy after political reforms.

The Thai baht, one of Asia's strongest currencies this year, suffered its biggest fall in three years within hours of the coup.

Reuters PDM GC0842