The panel submitted the results of its probe after scrutinising reports on all candidates over the past 43 days.

Panel secretary Senator Wallop Tangkananurak said they would submit four sets of reports - but two were confidential and could not be disclosed to the public.

He said six candidates had problems over whether their positions were equivalent to director-general or not. And seven were suspected to have political links, although there was no concrete evidence.

Five of the nominees did not give clear evidence about the source of their income and assets. They also were suspected of abusing their positions for self-interest. Some had close ties with criminals.

Wallop criticised Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua for meeting with Labour Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, saying Suchon should have acted in a neutral manner and complied with the Constitution.

Meanwhile, a source said the panel conducted secret inquiries and found one of candidates, Gen Kasemchart Naretseni, a former chief of the Armed Forces' education department had close connections with Thai Rak Thai politicians.

It also found that Pol Lt-General Wanchai Srinualnat had not declared assets worth Bt200 million. The panel asked him last Thursday to clarify this money, but he could not explain the source of his wife's assets - worth Bt557 million.

Candidate Asda Jayanama, a former Thai Ambassador to the US, faced a disciplinary probe one month before he retired. Asda indicated in his application that the Foreign Ministry suspended the probe without imposing any punishment on him.

Suchon said yesterday he would request the Cabinet to reconvene the House for a special session to select nine of the 18 anti-graft commissioners and to appoint a panel to probe the background of 10 candidates for the Election Commission.