Post-coup Thai cabinet expected in next two days

BANGKOK, Oct 4 (Reuters) Thailand's interim, post-coup cabinet is likely to be announced tomorrow or Friday, central bank chief Pridiyathorn Devakula said today.

''I have proposed the prime minister a few names for the cabinet and he will be the one who will reveal it to the public either by tomorrow or Friday,'' Pridiyathorn, who is widely tipped as finance minister, told reporters.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, appointed at the weekend by leaders of the September 19 coup against Thaksin Shinawatra, said his new cabinet would start work on Tuesday, the day of their official swearing-in by revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

He did not provide details.

Foreign and Thai investors worried about slowing rates of economic growth are paying close attention to Surayud's choice of ministers for the economic portfolios in his one-year, stop-gap administration.

Kosit Panpiemras, executive chairman of Thailand's largest bank, Bangkok Bank PCL, and an acknowledged expert on rural and small business development, has confirmed he is part of the line-up, although he did not reveal his precise position.

Other names being debated in Thai newspapers are former ambassador to Washington Nitya Pibulsongram as foreign minister, and former ambassador to the World Trade Organisation Krikkrait Jirapaet as commerce minister.

REUTERS MS RN1511