Thai central bank head to be finance minister

BANGKOK, Oct 7: Thai central bank governor Pridiyathorn Devakula is set to be deputy prime minister and finance minister in the interim, post-coup government, local media quoted him as saying today.

The private ITV news channel said on its Web site that Pridiyathorn had told reporters he had accepted the posts.

The widely expected appointment is likely to reassure foreign and Thai investors anxious for a steady hand on the country's economic tiller amid slowing growth and after months of political unrest and the September 19 coup against Thaksin Shinawatra.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, a former army chief appointed by the coup leaders a week ago, left Bangkok for the countryside today and would return tomorrow evening, a close aide told Reuters.

The aide said the announcement of the new cabinet, which had been expected this weekend, was now likely to be early next week.

Surayud's government is expected to serve for a year before a general election is held under a new constitution.

REUTERS