Special report: Coup d'etat in Thailand

    BANGKOK, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Governor of the Bank of Thailand, the central bank, Pridiyathorn Devakul said he agreed to join the interim cabinet of new Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont who took office on Sunday, Thai media reported.

    Pridiyathorn admitted after meeting Surayud on Monday morning that the new PM has asked him to join his cabinet, and he had agreed. But "I don't know what position I will be appointed, it is up to the prime minister," Pridiyathorn was quoted by news network The Nation as saying.

    Pridiyathorn was once speculated as one of the candidates for the interim PM job before Surayud's appointment was confirmed by the military ruling council. He was deemed with advantages of clear background, experience on economic and finance issues and "independent" working style in his practice as the central bank governor during the past five years.

    Some earlier reports said the BOT governor might be chosen to be a deputy prime minister or finance minister of the interim cabinet, which Surayud said would take him about one week to put in shape.

    Former army chief and Privy Councilor Surayud was handpicked by the military ruling authority Council for National Security as the post-coup PM who is to lead an interim government for about one year pending the completion of drafting a new Constitution and a general election after that.

    Surayud was sworn in as the 24th prime minister of Thailand on Sunday. When asked about his economic policies on his first press conference as PM Sunday, he said he would focus "not only on GDP figures, but on people's happiness as first priority." Enditem