Surinam President ousted and power goes to Army

The President of Surinam, Johan Ferrier, was deposed in a bloodless coup and the Cabinet handed its authority to the Army, reports reaching here Thursday say. The Dutch news agency ANP said a state of emergency was declared in the former Dutch colony on South America's northeastern shore, the Constitution was suspended, and a dawn-to-dusk curfew was imposed.

Prime Minister Henk Chin a Sen announced President Ferrier's resignation in a television broadcast Wednesday night, saying he had assumed the role of President himself, at the Army's request. There were no reports of githting or arrests.