US suspends nearly 24 million dollars aid to Thailand

WASHINGTON, Sep 28 (Reuters) The United States said today it had suspended nearly 24 million dollars in aid to Thailand because of its military coup.

''In response to the military coup ... in Thailand, the United States has suspended almost 24 million dollars of assistance to the Thai government,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

He said the action was taken in accordance with US laws restricting aid to countries that undergo military coups and indicated the assistance would be restored once Thailand -- a US treaty ally -- reinstates a democratically elected government.

McCormack said the suspended funds affected military training, peacekeeping operations and arms purchases. Other funding, for humanitarian purposes, will continue, he said.

US officials have said the coup was a ''very sad development'' for Thai democracy and a step backwards for the country.

Thailand's military looks set to loom large over an interim civilian government despite pledging it would step back two weeks after ousting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup.

With the 1997 ''People's Charter'' abolished by the coup leaders who seized power on September 19, legal experts are putting the final touches on a draft interim constitution to be submitted for royal approval on Saturday.

Details of the draft circulated in the Thai press have raised concerns that the generals will have too much influence over the new civilian administration.

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