Guns, tanks and flowers - Bangkok's latest attraction

BANGKOK, Sep 23 (Reuters) Camera-toting Thais and foreign tourists posed alongside tanks adorned in flowers and chatted up soldiers in Bangkok on Saturday, the capital's hottest attraction since a military coup four days ago.

''Okay guys, meet the army and the tanks,'' said Jackie, a Thai tour guide, as she led a group of Americans onto Royal Plaza square guarded by paratroopers armed with M-16 rifles.

Since the military ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, soldiers have received food and flowers from Thais who say they welcomed the army's intervention as the only way out of nearly a year of political strife.

The absence of any violence has led some tourists to rebook trips to Thailand despite their governments' travel warnings.

''We heard there was a little bit of a problem, but we're very happy we came,'' said Rick Walkom, who arrived from Brisbane with his two sons yesterday night.

''What amazes us is everyone is walking around taking pictures and photos. It's very entertaining,'' he told Reuters.

Soldiers have gamely taken up their new role, posing for cameras with wide smiles, a day after coup leaders ordered troops to keep smiling to forge a friendly military image.

Thailand's image overseas has been battered by the coup, the country's 18th since it became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

At home, analysts say the coup leaders must deliver on their promise of a swift return to civilian rule or risk the goodwill of Thais who have not seen tanks on Bangkok's streets in 15 years.

REUTERS SHB VV1519