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Thai army announces constitution Thailand military appoints new PM
(about 2 hours later)
The leaders of last month's military coup in Thailand have announced a new interim constitution. The leaders of last month's military coup in Thailand have announced army officer General Surayud Chulanont as the country's new prime minister.
An army spokesman said a new prime minister would be appointed later on Sunday - but the military junta reserves the right to sack him. A ceremony to swear him in as Thailand's new leader was expected to take place later on Sunday.
The army is also to retain substantial powers until elections, which have been promised for late next year. The announcement came after the military regime said it would draw up a new constitution.
The military unveiled the new constitution on television, saying King Bhumibol had endorsed it.The military unveiled the new constitution on television, saying King Bhumibol had endorsed it.
The military regime is expected to hold substantial powers until the country's next elections, which have been promised for October 2007.
Army officers took over the country after a bloodless coup on 19 September.
Coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin was quoted on news agency Reuters saying: "On the 28th [September] I went to his [Gen Chulanont] house and spent half an hour convincing him to take the job while the country is in crisis. He has agreed to take it."
Surayud Chulanont, 62, is an army veteran, and one of the few senior Thai figures who is respected by military and civilian leaders alike.
By choosing him as the country's new prime minister, Thailand's military may hope to quieten international fears.
New electionsNew elections
The coup leaders had said the military had to overthrow the former government to stop systematic corruption from the regime of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.The coup leaders had said the military had to overthrow the former government to stop systematic corruption from the regime of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The new constitution will be drawn up before new elections in October 2007, the junta said.
The new prime minister is expected to be a former military officer, although the coup leaders have refused to confirm this, reports say.
Mr Thaksin, who came to power in 2001, had proved a controversial and divisive leader.Mr Thaksin, who came to power in 2001, had proved a controversial and divisive leader.
Although he was extremely popular with Thailand's rural poor, his abrasive style and huge wealth won him many enemies and appeared to split the nation.Although he was extremely popular with Thailand's rural poor, his abrasive style and huge wealth won him many enemies and appeared to split the nation.
Mounting protests earlier this year undermined his position.Mounting protests earlier this year undermined his position.
But it was his easy victory in April's general election - subsequently declared invalid - that may have prompted the generals to act.But it was his easy victory in April's general election - subsequently declared invalid - that may have prompted the generals to act.
The leader of the coup, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, made his mark in recent months with some very public disagreements with the deposed prime minister.