Special report: Army coup in Thailand

    BANGKOK, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's military ruling council has picked the prime minister of an interim civilian government nine days after the Sept. 19 coup d'etat, the council's deputy chief and Navy chief Sathiraphan Keyanont announced on Thursday.

    However, Sathiraphan declined to reveal the name of the prime minister designate, saying it was a gentleman's agreement not to do so, according to Thai News Agency.

    Following a wait of slightly more than a week, the new prime minister was unanimously approved by all members of the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR), which after taking power pledged to appoint a prime minister and hand over power to an interim civilian government within two weeks.

    Sathiraphan said the CDR members were confident that the new government leader will be acceptable to the Thai people.

    CDR chief, army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin will be the one to announce the designate at a right time, Sathiraphan said.

    Asked whether the new prime minister is a civilian or a military figure, Sathiraphan pointed to a uniformed senior military officer standing nearby and said, "someone who is not dressed like this," implying that the new government leader is unlikely to be a military figure.

    According to CDR's announcement, the interim government will run for about one year and a general election will be held after the completion of a new constitution.

    Thai media have speculated that the main contenders are retired general and privy councilor Surayud Chulanont and former World Trade Organization director-general Supachai Panitchpakdi. Enditem

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