Retired Army General is New Thai Pm

Thailand's military regime yesterday swore in a retired army commander, General Surayud Chulanont, as interim prime minister to run the government until elections are held, probably in the second half of next year.

Widely regarded as one of the nation's most respected soldiers, Gen Surayud, 63, said that his priorities would be to heal the deep divisions caused by the policies of ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, and to end a bloody insurgency in the country's far south. "It was injustice that caused problems ... unity is needed to deal with them," he said.

General Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, head of the Council for National Security - as the military cabal, who seized power on September 19 in a bloodless coup, renamed themselves yesterday - stressed he would not "interfere in the selection of ministers". But the council has retained significant powers for itself. In the new 38-chapter charter endorsed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Saturday - to replace the constitution that the military suspended - it can fire the prime minister, and has complete immunity for toppling Mr Thaksin, who is living in London.

The generals have repeatedly stated that the new government's priorities will be to write a new constitution to close "loopholes" they accuse Mr Thaksin of exploiting to tighten his grip on power, and to investigate the more than 10,000 corruption allegations linked to the previous regime.

It is unclear how Gen Surayud will be received internationally. Most countries condemned the coup, and nations like the United States dropped strong hints last week they would prefer a civilian leader.