US reviews assistance to Thailand after coup

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 21 (Reuters) The United States is reviewing its aid to Thailand following a military coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a senior US official said today.

US Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill told reporters the coup was a ''very sad development'' for Thai democracy and a step backwards for the country.

''We are also reviewing our assistance to Thailand in light of the various legal implications of assistance to a country in which there has been a military coup to depose civilian leadership,'' Hill said, without indicating when a decision would be made or how much would be affected.

Most US aid to other nations is provided under a law that bars giving the bulk of these funds ''to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.'' The State Department said it had budgeted about 14 million dollars in bilateral aid to Thailand this year but more US funds could also come from regional programs the United States was involved in.

REUTERS PB PM2306