Thai army chief urges both sides in country's political divide to show restraint

BANGKOK – Thai army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has urged both sides in the country's bitter political dispute to show restraint.

The comments Friday to reporters indicate that the army, which has staged at least 11 coups in the country's history, is remaining out of the current political fray.

Prayuth said the army had shown "red traffic lights to both sides so things will calm down."

The country has been wracked by two months of political tensions and occasionally violent street protests pitting the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra against protesters seeking to oust her.