Bangkok , Thailand ( CNN ) -- The general who seized control of Thailand in a coup last week said Monday that he has received royal endorsement to run the politically unstable country and warned of a potential crackdown on people protesting military rule . Dressed in a white uniform and flanked by more than a dozen other military officials , Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha addressed reporters in Bangkok , saying he had received a royal command from the country 's deeply revered King to head the ruling military council . Saying there was `` no set time period '' for when new elections might be held , Prayuth outlined the steps he said his junta plans to take , including setting up a committee to introduce reforms . But he also issued a warning to the groups of protesters who have gathered in Bangkok in recent days to voice their opposition to the coup and call for democratic elections . The demonstrators , who numbered in the hundreds on Sunday , have scuffled with soldiers in the streets . So far , the military has allowed the small-but-growing protests to take place , even though martial law forbids gatherings of more than five people . With more protests expected Monday , Prayuth suggested the military would n't tolerate public displays of dissent indefinitely , saying the situation was reaching a `` boiling point . '' He urged people to stop demonstrating , warning that they risk a stricter enforcement of martial law and prosecution in military courts , and told journalists and social media users not to transmit provocative messages . Coup criticized . The Thai military carried out the coup Thursday -- tearing up the constitution and imposing a curfew -- after months of unrest that had destabilized the elected government and caused outbursts of deadly violence in Bangkok . But the sudden intervention by the armed forces -- the latest in a series of coups that have punctuated modern Thai history -- has been criticized by human rights activists and foreign governments , including the United States . Receiving endorsement from King Bhumibol Adulyadej , Thailand 's ailing but widely admired monarch , adds legitimacy to Prayuth 's credentials . But it appears unlikely to change the opinions of many of the protesters who have been taking to the streets to demonstrate against the coup . Other Thais have expressed hope that the military will succeed in bringing an end to the crisis that has plagued the country for months.. Politicians , academics summoned . Since taking power , military authorities have summoned -- and in some cases detained -- scores of leading political officials and other prominent figures , such as academics and business leaders . Travel bans have also been imposed . Among the most high-profile figures who 've turned themselves in is former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra , who was in office when the current phase of political turmoil began in November . Yingluck , who was removed from office by the courts earlier this month , was released from a military facility over the weekend after she followed a summons to report to military authorities on Friday . A military source said Yingluck was asked to `` help us maintain peace and order and not to get involved with protesters or any political movement '' and now has freedom of movement and communication . But a close aide to Yingluck disagreed with the assertion that she was free to move and communicate . She is yet to make any public statement since the coup . Thaksin 's influence . The recent unrest was driven by months of protests against Yingluck 's government . The protest leaders said they wanted to rid Thailand of the influence of Yingluck and her wealthy brother , the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra , who was deposed in the country 's last military coup in 2006 . The Shinawatras ' powerful political movement , which has dominated elections for more than a decade , draws its support from Thailand 's populous rural regions in the north and northeast . But it is unpopular among the Bangkok elites , who accuse it of buying votes through ill-judged , populist policies . The protesters who campaigned against Yingluck 's government claimed Thailand needed reforms to be imposed by an unelected council before any further elections could take place . With the military 's intervention , they appear to have got their wish , although some of the protest leaders were taken into custody after the coup . Suthep Thaugsuban , the ring leader of the anti-Yingluck protests , was released on bail of 600,000 baht ( $ 18,000 ) with instructions he ca n't leave the country , his organization said Monday on its Facebook page . It remains unclear how the pro-Thaksin red shirt movement , which held mass rallies in central Bangkok in 2010 , will respond to military rule . Some of the top red shirt leaders are also among those who were detained by military authorities . CNN 's Paula Hancocks reported from Bangkok , and Jethro Mullen reported and wrote from Hong Kong . CNN 's Kocha Olarn and journalist Kiki Dhitavat contributed to this report .
NEW : The leader of rallies against the former government is released on bail . Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha urges people to stop protesting or risk crackdown . He says he has the King 's approval to head the ruling military council . The military took power last week after months of political turmoil .