Thai coup leader plans to be out in two weeks

Bangkok, Sept 20: The Thai military plans to choose a new prime minister within two weeks and step back from power, coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said today.

''We have two weeks. After two weeks, we will step out,'' Sonthi told a news conference.

The military leadership was poring over lists of candidates for the prime minister's job.

''We want a person who loves democracy and constitutional monarchy,'' he said.

Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was in New York when the military took power on Tuesday night, was welcome to return to his homeland, he said.

''Thaksin is a Thai and a fellow countryman and there will be no problem should he decide to return,'' Sonthi said.

REUTERS

Related Stories