Bangkok:
Thailand's junta chief on Friday ruled out elections for at least a year to have time for political "reforms", defending the recent military coup in the face of rising international alarm.
"The (ruling military regime) have a timeframe of one year and three months to move towards elections," said army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha in a televised national address over a week after the army takeover.
He said a first phase of around three months would focus on "reconciliation" in the ferociously divided nation, with a cabinet and new draft constitution put in place to enact reforms during a second year-long phase. Only after this could elections be held.
Thailand's military seized power on May 22 - the 19th actual or attempted putsch in its modern history - and set about rounding up scores of political figures, academics and activists.
Authorities have abrogated the constitution, curtailed civil liberties under martial law and imposed a nightly curfew.
Around 300 people have now been held for periods of up to a week, with those released threatened with prosecution if they continue political activism.
On Thursday, the United States reiterated a call for a swift return to democratic rule, with State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying Washington would "use every political lever, economic lever where applicable to put the necessary pressure on".