Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, Thai Royal Army Chief who led the coup Tuesday night taking over the Thai government, officially received in a ceremony Friday noon the King's endorsement as chief of the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM).

Wearing snow-white costume and supported with a word, Sonthi stood along with other coup commanders to receive from a representative reading the royal decree of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, endorsing the appointment of Sonthi as Chief of CDRM.

The ceremony, two days after the CDRM announced the royal endorsement, was held at the Army headquarters, where houses the head office of CDRM in Bangkok, was broadcast live on TV.