New Thai prime minister promises ethical government

The newly-appointed interim prime minister of Thailand, General Surayud Chulanont, has promised his government will be based on good ethics.

General Surayud's appointment has been endorsed by King Bhumipol and he will spend the next week deciding on the 35 men and women who will make up his cabinet.

Radio Australia's South East Asia correspondent, Karen Percy, said General Surayud, a former army chief, was already trying to differentiate his government from that of the deposed prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Shinawatra had been accused of corruption and interfering with public institutions.

In a nationally televised address following his acceptance of the job on Sunday, General Surayud stressed that he was only expecting to be in power for a short period of time.

The Council for Democratic Reform, which staged the coup almost two weeks ago, has promised to hold elections within a year.

Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a bloodless, late-night coup on September 19.

Thailand's military used allegations of corruption in the government of Thaksin Shinawatra to justify the first coup in 15 years.

The ousted premier, who was at the UN General Assembly in New York when he was turfed out, is now living in London where he has a residence.

- REUTERS