The country could not have avoided any coup even if the seizure of power on September 19 had not taken place because the government was ready to stage a "self-coup" against its own administration.

Intelligence forces reported that the government planned to recruit 200 people from the ranks of motorcycle taxi drivers, security guards and ruffians to instigate trouble, which would lead to bloodshed during an uprising of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The report said the strategy behind the move was to assassinate PAD leaders and use the ensuing violence as an excuse to deploy tanks and troops to suppress the people.

Then the government could declare martial law. Even though the intelligence report sounded unbelievable, it was given more weight by Thaksin Shinawatra's state-of-emergency address on television on September 19.

Thai News Agency reporters who followed the prime minister to the United States said he learned about the military movements back home at 7am New York time, which was 7pm here.

He called a meeting of officials and asked Television Pool of Thailand to relay his broadcast. But TV Pool refused and that made Thaksin very angry.

He contacted Modernine TV, Channel 11 and iTV directly. The two latter channels agreed to broadcast the transmission from Modernine TV but technical problems prevented them from showing Thaksin's statement.

Thaksin was able to air his announcement only on Modernine TV at 9.15, two hours after he knew about the revolt of the military against him.

The language used in the statement was full of legal and technical terms, even though no legal specialists followed Thaksin to the US.

That suggests that he had carried a carefully prepared draft that could be pulled out and used at any time. This is why Thaksin is believed to have planned a "self-coup" using military units loyal to him. But the opposite side read thorough his plot and launched a pre-emptive strike.