If changes were made, the ministry would need to notify the respective commanders before submitting the list of rotations for royal approval via the prime minister, military observers said.

The new military lineup was expected to be complete next week, Sirichai said, following consultation with the commanders of the Army, Navy, Air Force plus the Supreme Commander.

"All key positions have been filled including the post of perma¬nent secretary for defence," he said, referring to a fierce contest to replace him after he retires next month.

Sirichair refused, however, to reveal his successor, tipped to be either his deputy, Admiral Bannawit Kengrien, or Joint Chief of Staff Gen Lertrat Ratanavanich.

After the military commanders submitted their recommendations for key positions last month, speculation spread about political meddling in the military lineup.

Although caretaker Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura has insisted that politics would be kept out of the military reshuffle, rumours have persisted that care¬taker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wants to promote PreCadet Class 10 officers, seen as his staunch allies.

After Thamarak apparently spent weeks scrutinising the pro¬posed rotations, four senior military officers last week petitioned Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council, to intervene and stop the alleged political interference.

In reprisal, Thamarak ordered disciplinary proceedings against the four officers on grounds that they had bypassed the chain of command.

On Monday, Sirichai enforced Thamarak's order and appointed a disciplinary panel to investigate the alleged unbecoming conduct of the four officers.

Yesterday he met with Prem to explain how and why the discipli¬nary review was launched.

The Nation