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Thai general sets 'PM deadline' Thai general sets 'PM deadline'
(10 minutes later)
The leader of Thailand's military coup, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, has said a new PM would be named within two weeks. The leader of the military coup in Thailand has said a new prime minister would be named within two weeks.
"We have two weeks. After two weeks, we will step out," Gen Sonthi told a news conference. He said coup leaders were considering candidates. Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin told a news conference that new elections would take place in a year's time, once a new constitution had been written.
The figurehead of Tuesday night's bloodless coup made the assurance at a news conference in Bangkok. He denied Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej had anything to do with the coup that saw tanks rolling into Bangkok late on Tuesday.
Coup leaders have said PM Thaksin Shinawatra's alleged corruption and divisiveness forced them to act. He warned that ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra could face charges.
Gen Sonthi claimed he was acting in line with the wishes of the Thai people.
In the news conference, Gen Sonthi again blamed government mismanagement for forcing coup leaders to act.
But he denied the military wanted a permanent hold on power, attempting to reassure his audience by putting a deadline on how long he would remain in power.
"We have two weeks. After two weeks, we will step out," he said.
He said coup leaders were considering candidates to appoint as the new prime minister, who would rule until fresh elections in a year's time.
In the interim, he said, a new national assembly would be appointed to draft a new, permanent constitution.