Reuters Wednesday 21st May, 2014

* Army declared martial law on Tuesday, denies staging coup

* Acting PM says he is still in charge, has proposed Aug. 3 election

* Anti-government protesters oppose an early election

* Pro-government "red shirts" warn of trouble if government ousted (Adds army chief calling meeting, analyst comment)

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Amy Sawitta Lefevre

BANGKOK, May 21 (Reuters) - Thailand's army chief summoned leaders of rival political groups and parties, Election Commission members and senators to a meeting on Wednesday, a day after he declared martial law, to discuss a way out of the country's political turmoil.

Although the military denied Tuesday's surprise intervention amounted to a coup, General Prayuth Chan-ocha appears to be setting the agenda by forcing groups and organisations with a central role in the crisis to meet.

"General Prayuth has called a meeting at the Army Club with all sides to talk about ways out of the country's crisis," deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree told Reuters, adding it would start at 1:30 p.m. (0630 GMT). ...

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UPDATE 1-Thai army chief summons political rivals to seek end to crisis