BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand's new ruling junta on Thursday announced a ban on meetings of political parties and barred the establishment of new parties.

The announcement said the action was taken to maintain peace and order.

The bans are the latest moves by the junta to maintain control, even though no open opposition has surfaced to its Tuesday night takeover.

Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra lay low in London as the junta purged his followers.

But less than 48 hours after tanks rolled into the streets to overthrow Thaksin's regime, the Thai capital appeared to have returned to normalcy.

And despite condemnation of the coup by Western and some Asian governments, hope emerged on the homefront that the new government might have a chance to resolve a bloody Muslim insurgency that has killed more than 1,700.