Thailand's Military Rulers Name Interim Prime Minister

[Diablo Bob]

Thailand's military rulers name interim prime minister

Posted 9/28/2006 10:59 PM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this

BANGKOK (AP) — Surayud Chulanont, a former army commander and a close adviser to Thailand's powerful monarch, has been chosen as the country's interim prime minister, the auditor general said Thursday night.

Surayud, a highly regarded 62-year-old retired officer, was selected by the country's ruling military council which seized power from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Sept. 19 and vowed to name a civilian prime minister within two weeks.

"Yes, definitely, Gen. Surayud is the prime minister. He is the suitable person," Auditor General Jaruvan Maintaka told reporters. Her comments were later carried on an official government website.

The appointment is expected to be officially announced this weekend or Monday after it receives approval from King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Akara Thiroj, a spokesman for the council, said an interim constitution has already been finalized and sent to the Royal Palace. He hoped the constitution could be unveiled Saturday or Sunday and followed by the formal announcement of the prime minister on the weekend or Monday.

"The media seems to know more than I do. Every newspaper put his name on the front page," Akara said when asked who the new prime minister would be.

All Friday morning Bangkok newspapers carried headlines that Surayud would probably head the new government which is to serve until an election promised for October 2007.

The other much-touted possibility for the job had been former World Trade Organization chief Supachai Panitchpakdi, who now heads the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, or UNCTAD.

Surayud's appointment is expected to be widely praised in Thailand.

Korn Chatikavanij, deputy general secretary of the Democrat Party, said earlier that Surayud is an "appropriate" choice. The Democrat Party was the leading opposition to Thaksin's government.

Although being a former general might give the outside world the impression the military was merely transferring power to one of its cronies, that would be neither true nor relevant, he said.

"What is important is domestic reconciliation and Gen. Surayud is ideal for that," Korn told The Associated Press.

The military ousted elected prime minister Thaksin in a bloodless coup while Thaksin was visiting New York. He is now in London, and has not indicated if or when he may try to return to Thailand.

Large demonstrations demanding his ouster — following allegations of corruption and abuse of power — reflected a polarized Thai society.

The United States, which has decried the coup as a setback to democracy, on Thursday suspended $24 million in assistance to Thailand.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said U.S. financing of U.S. military sales to Thailand is being cut off along with training for Thai military personnel.

"The United States continues to urge a rapid return to democratic rule and early elections in Thailand," he said.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[george]

Not offically confirmed yet. We will know by Sunday.

Thread closed.

/Admin

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Not offically confirmed yet. We will know by Sunday.

Thread closed.

/Admin

He'd be odds on though