Special report: Army coup in
Thailand
BANGKOK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) --
Thailand's interim premier Surayud Chulanont on Monday unveiled his cabinet.
The cabinet was announced in a televised broadcast
early Monday after King Bhumibol Adulyadej endorsed the lineup just before
midnight.
The list included 28 ministers serving under Surayud,
who was appointed prime minister after a bloodless coup on Sept. 19 coup that
toppled Thaksin Shinawatra's government.
Thailand's central bank chief, Pridiyathorn Devakula,
was named finance minister and will also serve as a deputy prime minister for
economic affairs.
Former ambassador to the United States Nitya
Pibulsonggram was named foreign minister.
Retired army general Bunrod Somtad, a longtime friend
of Surayud, was named defense minister.
The executive chairman of Bangkok Bank, Kosit
Panpiemras, was named industry minister and one of two deputy prime ministers.
The portfolio of commerce minister was given to
Krirkkrai Jirapaet, a former permanent secretary at the ministry.
According to the schedule drafted by the Council for
National Security, which led the Sept. 19 coup and annulled the 1997
constitution, the caretaker government is expected to rule the country for one
year until elections scheduled for October 2007. Enditem