US rebukes Thai coup-makers

Thailand's coup leaders faced fresh international condemnation Saturday when US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel demanded immediate elections and the release of detainees held by a junta which says there will be no polls for at least a year.
Speaking at an Asian security conference in Singapore, the Pentagon chief urged Thailand's military to free scores of people detained under martial law since generals seized power from the civilian government on May 22.
Shortly after making his comments, Thai authorities arrested one anti-coup protester in downtown Bangkok as they braced for a larger protest threatened for Sunday.
Hagel called on the junta to end its curbs on "free expression" -- which include banning political gatherings of more than five people and sweeping media controls -- and for the army to "immediately restore power to the people of Thailand" through elections, according to AFP.