Thai PM to retire from politics nine years after seizing power in coup

Prayuth Chan-ocha announces resignation after his party suffered a humiliating defeat in May election

The Thai prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has said he will retire from politics, more than nine years after the former army general seized power in a military coup.

In May, his party suffered a humiliating defeat, coming fifth, well behind an upstart opposition party that promised to remove the military from politics. He will remain as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed.