Fewer tanks patrolled the streets of Bangkok today as the Thai army reduced its presence at key government facilities, but troops were not to be completely withdrawn, an army officer said.Four tanks remained at Government House early today, compared to about 10 the previous day, and there were fewer armed soldiers on guard, a day and a half after the military seized power in a bloodless coup."As of now, we have only two companies of troops deployed at Government House, but total withdrawal is up to the army commander because there is not yet complete trust in the situation," Lieutenant Romklao Thuwatham told AFP."The army chief is very concerned over security," he said, referring to Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the leader of the coup. "If any small incident occurred, it could lead to violence, but soldiers will try to be relaxed." Tanks deployed along the main avenue leading to the army headquarters and other ministries in central Bangkok were withdrawn late yesterday, ahead of the first full regular working day since the putsch.Sources said the Military Council for Political Reform, as the generals are calling themselves, were not fully at ease because some of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's key ministers were gathering at air force bases.The group included Defence Minister General Thammarak Issarangkura Na Ayutthaya, Air Chief Marshall Kongsak Vantana and Police General Jumpol Manmai, who is the head of the National Intelligence Agency.
