Thai coup leader seeks to ease democracy fears

BANGKOK, Sep 29 (Reuters) Thailand's new civilian prime minister will have a free hand in running the country, its military leader said today, trying to ease fears about the army casting its shadow over a return to democracy and beyond.

''I can assure you it is impossible that we will control the government,'' coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said at Army Headquarters in his first formal interview with a foreign news organisation.

''We will be the government's tool to keep peace.'' Sonthi, head of the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) which ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on September 19, said a stop-gap constitution would come into force on Sunday.

After that a candidate for prime minister would be submitted to revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej for approval.

He declined to name Thaksin's successor, but Thai media have focused on respected former army chief Surayud Chulanon who appeared to be the favourite of at least one CDR member.

''I like him. I prefer him. Surayud is my choice, but I don't have the power to choose,'' General Winai Phattiyakul told a news conference.

A former army commander-in-chief, Surayud is currently a senior royal adviser with a reputation as a military reformer and moderniser who recognised the need to keep soldiers out of politics.

''His major contribution was to put the army back into the barracks and to draw a clear boundary between civilian affairs and military affairs,'' said one Bangkok-based human rights worker who asked not to be identified.

''People respect him very highly, but it's not about him any more. It's not about Surayud as a person. It's all about the CDR,'' he said.

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