Thailand's interim premier Surayud Chulanont today unveiled his cabinet.
The cabinet was announced in a televised broadcast early Monday after King
Bhumibol Adulyadej endorsed the lineup just before midnight.
The list included 28 ministers serving under Surayud, who was appointed prime
minister after a bloodless coup on Sept. 19 coup that toppled Thaksin
Shinawatra's government.
Thailand's central bank chief, Pridiyathorn Devakula, was named finance
minister and will also serve as a deputy prime minister for economic affairs.
Former ambassador to the United States Nitya Pibulsonggram was named foreign
minister.
Retired army general Bunrod Somtad, a longtime friend of Surayud, was named
defense minister.
The executive chairman of Bangkok Bank, Kosit Panpiemras, was named industry
minister and one of two deputy prime ministers.
The portfolio of commerce minister was given to Krirkkrai Jirapaet, a former
permanent secretary at the ministry.
According to the schedule drafted by the Council for National Security, which
led the Sept. 19 coup and annulled the 1997 constitution, the caretaker
government is expected to rule the country for one year until elections
scheduled for October 2007.