Ex-chief of Wto Tipped to Lead Thailand

The former chief of the World Trade Organisation, Supachai Panitchpakdi, was strongly tipped today by the Thai media to be caretaker prime minister under the new military regime.

The head of the junta, General Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, declined to speculate on whom he would appoint, saying the name would be announced on Sunday along with the publication of a draft charter in lieu of the suspended constitution.

Mr Supachai, a former commerce minister and currently secretary-general of the UN conference on trade and development, has already agreed to take the post, according to the English-language Nation newspaper and several Thai publications.

He was chosen "for his capability to salvage the country's sagging economy and remedy its image, tarnished by the coup," the Nation quoted a source as saying.

The media said Mr Supachai was persuaded to accept the post after discussions with one of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's key advisers, Prem Tinsulanonda.

Gen Sondhi would say only that the next prime minister must be honest.

"I have someone in mind, but would rather not say it at this time," he told a press conference. "I will try to pick a prime minister as soon as possible."

Other candidates include a former army commander, Surayud Chulanont; the president of the supreme administrative court, Ackaratorn Chularat; and Pridiyathorn Devakula, the head of Thailand's central bank.

Gen Sondhi also said today that the military would remain engaged with the caretaker government through a military council which would advise the government on security matters.

"We do not know what the internal situation will be in the future," he said. "As of today the situation is calm, orderly and peaceful, but we do not know what is going to happen in the future."

The military seized power last Tuesday night while the prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was in New York attending the UN general assembly. The generals said they acted to end months of political turmoil and to prevent corruption and abuse of power that Mr Thaksin is widely alleged to have committed.

Their two stated priorities are to rewrite the constitution to strengthen the checks and balances on executive power and investigate alleged corruption during the Thaksin regime.