Retired army commander sworn in as Thai premier

Retired army commander General Surayud Chulanont was sworn in today as Thailand’s interim prime minister following the announcement of a temporary constitution which reserved considerable powers for Thailand’s military coup makers.

The announcement, following his endorsement by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was widely expected.

The Cabinet is expected to be announced later this week.

Surayud, 63, who spent 40-years in the military, is seen as someone who could help stabilise the political situation following the September 19 coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

“Gen Surayud has been trusted to become a new prime minister,” said coup leader Gen Sondhi Boonyaratkalin. “The king has appointed him to administer the country from now on.”

Surayud, dressed in a white military uniform and accompanied by his wife, stood at attention alongside six other coup leaders at Government House in the Thai capital of Bangkok. A wall-sized portrait of the king hung behind them.

During his military career, Surayud earned praise for his deft handling of the sensitive border with Cambodia during the 1980s and upon his appointment as army commander engineered a major restructuring of the military, increasing professionalism and keeping officers out of politics.