Musharraf says coup rumors 'nonsense'

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said rumors of an impending military coup were "nonsense in nonsense in nonsense" in a Pakistani TV interview from the United States Sunday.

The rumors were sparked by a nationwide power outage and Musharraf's visit at a U.S. hospital. The president visited a cardiologist Saturday during a trip to Texas.

Musharraf was in the United States along with many world leaders to address the U.N. General Assembly. Thailand's former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a military coup before his scheduled U.N. address.


Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf makes remarks at George Washington University in Washington, Friday, Sept. 22, 2006. AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson via Yahoo News.

Thai military makes coup attempt, backs king

Thailand's military, pledging loyalty to the king, launched a coup attempt against the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday night.

Tanks encircled government buildings including Thaksin's official headquarters known as Government House.

The prime minister is in New York where he is scheduled to speak before the United Nations on Tuesday. He declared a state of emergency via a government-owned television station.


Thai soldiers patrol near the official presidential office Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday Sept. 19, 2006. AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit via Yahoo News.

Thaksin's opponents have called on the prime minister to step down, but new elections after Thaksin dissolved parliament were annulled by the courts. This has left Thailand without a functioning legislature.

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin is apparently leading the coup attempt according to an anonymous source.

Walking shark discovered

Researchers exploring the seas of Indonesia's Papua province said Monday they had discovered dozens of new species including a shark that walks on its fins and a praying mantis-like shrimp.

Some 52 new species were reported by Conseravtion International including 24 fish species and 20 corals and eight new shrimp species.

The area known as the Bird's Head Seascape is partially conserved as it lies within Indonesia's Teluk Cendarawasih National Park.


In this undated Conservation International photo, an epaulette shark (Hemiscyillum freycineti), one of over 50 likely new species recently discovered. AP Photo/Conservation International, Gerry Allen, HO via Yahoo News.