Secretary General Gen. Winai Phattiyakul of Thailand's Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) said the military planned to issue an interim constitution later this week and that a new prime minister would be named early next. 

"The drafting of an interim constitution is finished," he said. "It's under consideration by experts. It's expected to be announced within the week. After that announcement the next step will be the selection of a prime minister which will happen by early next week," he told reporters.

Winai made his remarks after briefing foreign diplomats at the foreign ministry.

Once the new premier sets up a government a new council would be put in place to draft a permanent constitution and pave the way for new elections, Winai said.

That process should take eight and a half months after which a general election would be held, he said. 

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2006)