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| Thailand military appoints new PM | Thailand military appoints new PM |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The leaders of last month's military coup in Thailand have announced army officer General Surayud Chulanont as the country's new prime minister. | The leaders of last month's military coup in Thailand have announced army officer General Surayud Chulanont as the country's new prime minister. |
| A ceremony to swear him in as Thailand's new leader was expected to take place later on Sunday. | A ceremony to swear him in as Thailand's new leader was expected to take place later on Sunday. |
| The announcement came after the military regime said it would draw up a new constitution. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | By choosing him as the country's new prime minister, Thailand's military may hope to quieten international fears. |
| New elections | New 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. |
| 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. |
| Poorer voters had liked his offers of cheap medical care and debt relief, his nationalist platform and his contempt for the "Bangkok elite" in politics. He also won respect for his handling of the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami and policies which lead to an economic boom. | |
| 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. |