Retired army commander Gen. Surayud Chulanont was sworn in on Sunday as Thailand's interim prime minister, saying he wanted to settle a bloody Muslim insurgency and heal a country divided by the policies of his predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra.
Earlier on Sunday, Thailand's ruling military announced an interim constitution.
The announcement was made on television stations by a newsreader after Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand endorsed the document.
"King Bhumiphol Adulyadej has endorsed the 2006 temporary constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, on October 1st, 2006, during the 60th year of his reign."
The military abolished a 1997 constitution after seizing power from then-caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup on September 19.
Under the new interim constitution, the ruling military council gave itself the power to remove the incoming government's prime minister and Cabinet cembers, approve the selection of a National Assembly speaker and have the final say on a 100-member committee that will write the next constitution.
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