Thai officials have traced an additional €458m in assets of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and will freeze them as they investigate his alleged corruption, a government official said today.

Retired army commander General Sorayud Chulanont was expected to be named interim prime minister today following the announcement of a temporary constitution which reserved considerable powers for Thailand’s military coup makers.

Coup leaders have chosen a former army commander and close adviser to Thailand’s powerful monarch to lead the country until promised elections next year, the auditor general said today.

Thailand’s military council, which seized power last week, is setting up a special panel to probe corruption in the former government, it announced today.

Thailand’s new military leaders today moved to tighten their grip on power, restricting political activities and taking over legislative powers, as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra broke his silence on his ousting, saying he would take a rest.