Thai Finance Minister Pridiyathorn quits

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (Reuters) Thai Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula announced his shock resignation today, blaming media criticism of his performance since taking the job after a September coup.

''I don't want to be under the influence of some media people,'' Pridiyathorn told reporters.

Pridiyathorn, the central bank governor until taking over the ministry in October, has been criticised for several decisions which upset foreign investors since he was appointed after the coup which ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

He was seen as a steady hand on the economic tiller when named finance minister and deputy to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

But his reputation was soon tarnished by the botched imposition of capital controls in December, which led to the sharpest one-day fall in the history of the Thai stock market.

A move to tighten foreign business ownership laws in January outraged many foreign investors and triggered fears of rising economic nationalism in the Southeast Asia nation.

REUTERS PDM RAI1058