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.

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.

While foreign survivors of Thailand’s tsunami disaster were put up in an international school complete with beds, television sets and internet connections, locals from a devastated fishing village slept outside, many without blankets, burning wood to keep warm and keep mosquitos at bay.

Thailand suspects a new outbreak of bird flu at a farm in a central province where thousands of chickens have died.

Thailand’s prime minister today denied accusations that his government had tried to cover up an outbreak of bird flu that is suspected of having kille at least one person and has devastated poultry farms across the country.