Thai prime minister declares end of military rule

FILE PHOTO: Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha smiles before speaking to the media at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, June 6, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha formally resigned as the head of the military government on Monday, saying the country would function as a normal democracy after five years of military rule.

Prayuth stays on as prime minister with the backing of pro-military parties in parliament and a military-appointed upper house under a constitution that critics say stifles democracy and enshrines a political role for the military.