Interim charter submitted to Thai King for approval

BANGKOK - Gen. Winai Phattiyakul, secretary general of the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) of Thailand, said an interim constitution had been submitted to the King for royal approval while the military council will transform itself into the Council for National Security from Monday.

Winai said the interim charter had been submitted to the King separately from the list of this year's military reshuffle for royal approval, the Thai News Agency reported Saturday.

He was quoted as saying that the name of the interim prime minister as well as his cabinet ministers would be announced after the royal approval on interim charter is made.

Effective next Monday, the CDR will be known as the Council for National Security and become the caretaker of the interim government until a new government is formed after a general election, he said.

Since the military leaders promised to step aside and let civilians run the country after two weeks following the September 19 coup, the CDR will be responsible for considering urgent matters only, said Winai, who is also the new defense permanent secretary.

The CDR which has seized power in a bloodless coup d'etat on September 19 is likely to appoint Privy Councilor Gen. Surayud Chulanont as interim prime minister, said the Thai News Agency. Before he retired, Surayud was supreme commander of Thailand's armed forces.