US suspends military aid to Thailand as army crackdown continues

The United States has suspended its military aid to Thailand in the wake of the bloodless coup there, even as the chief of the US Army called his Thai counterpart urging him to return the country to democratic rule.

''We have already suspended approximately $3.5 million in FMF (foreign military financing) and IMET (International Military Education and Training) funding currently. We are reviewing all programs to determine other assistance, which we may suspend,'' State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters on Friday.

Meanwhile, deposed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is in a "safe place", an aide said today. She was being held by Thailand's army following its seizure of power this week.

Thailand's military was reportedly arresting key Red Shirt supporters of Shinawatra in their north and north-eastern strongholds in a rolling crackdown that has seen dozens of people detained in secret locations.

Harf said that all US aid has not been cut off. The US in 2013 gave $10.5 million in form of bilateral assistance, economic and international security assistance.

''There are also global and regional programs funding through things like ASEAN, APEC that goes to a number of different countries. One of the things we're doing right now is going through all of those to call out what actually goes to Thailand, and that just is a process that takes some time,'' she said.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon said that US army chief Gen Raymond T Odierno called his Thai counterpart General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday and urged him to return the country to democratic rule.

''I am told it was a constructive conversation and the general made it clear that we certainly expect a return to democratic principles in Thailand just as soon as possible, but I won't go into any more detail than that,'' Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said.

The Department of State has advised official US government travellers to defer all non-essential travel to Thailand until further notice.