Thai coup leaders may appoint military premier

Thailand’s military rulers said today that they wrote a temporary constitution appointing themselves advisers to any interim government, and hinted they might replace ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra with an ex-military man.

Coup leader Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin told reporters that the ruling military council hoped to install a new civilian prime minister “as soon as possible,” but was still narrowing down its candidates for the job. He did not rule out a former soldier for the temporary role.