"The people who we would like to take the job are not interested in the offer; those who we don't want to take the job are interested in it," a political source close to the CDRM said yesterday.

Supachai Panitchpakdi, director-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, remains on the list. A political source said Prasong Soonsiri, who is one of the political masterminds behind the downfall of Thaksin, had been assigned to get in touch with Supachai to discuss the matter with him.

Supachai was invited as a guest to the annual meeting of the Cairns Group of 18 agricultural-exporting countries in Australia, which wrapped up three days of talks yesterday.

The name of Ackaratorn Chularat, president of the Supreme Administrative Court, has been floated from the outset but he said he had not yet been approached by the CDRM.

"Right now there is a process to search for candidates. I don't know who has said that I'm suitable for the job. You have to ask the person who has said so. My name got out on September 21. I have also called to ask why my name is on the list. Now it appears that there are several suitable people," Ackaratorn said.

His chances appear to be boosted by a comment from ACC Chalit Pukphasuk, deputy head of the CDRM, who said aspirants for the interim premiership must have a strong background in public law in order to preside over legal and constitutional reform.

However, political sources point out that Ackaratorn might not get picked because he was soft on ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He failed to take up a case when Thaksin was accused of forfeiting his premier's status after announcing he was taking a break from office shortly after the April 2 election.

MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, the Bank of Thailand governor, has also been mentioned but he may have to settle for a lesser post as the head of the economic team or finance minister because he is seen as being too independent.

Pridiyathorn insisted that he had not yet received any contact about filling the premier's seat, saying only that the CDRM asked him for a meeting on Wednesday to brief the members about the economic situation.

"I don't know about any approach or offer. You're just making things up. My wife has told me that I should think about it only when it really comes," he said.

The name of Privy Councillor General Surayud Chulanont has also been bandied around. But it is not known whether he will be an eventual candidate.

The interim premiership post is of crucial importance during this transition phase, which might last more than one year.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who staged a successful coup to topple the Thaksin government on Tuesday, has promised to have an interim government formed within two weeks.

At this point, Meechai Ruchuphan, the legal expert, is presiding over the drafting of an interim constitution before a new prime minister and Cabinet can be announced.