Royal command broadcast on TV
His Majesty the King signs a royal endorsement appointing Surayud Chulanont as prime minister at Chitralada Palace yesterday.
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A Television Pool of Thailand (TV Pool) broadcast from Government House at 4.45pm showed new Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont receiving his Royal command.
Surayud, 63, becomes the 24th prime minister of Thailand, replacing the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra. A smiling TV Pool presenter profiled the new leader and his achievements. It told audiences Surayud had been accepted both locally and internationally and he had an outstanding ability to resolve problems. The broadcast mentioned troubles in the deep South and said Surayud would give attention to the uprising. It noted his former position as Army chief and record as a 40-year military veteran. It added the new prime minister continued to take an interest in the South after his appointment as a member of the Privy Council. The 20-minute broadcast showed Surayud and Council for National Security leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and other coup leaders in military dress uniform before a portrait of His Majesty the King. The broadcast recorded Sonthi reading His Majesty's command. Following that Surayud prostrated himself before a shrine beneath the portrait of His Majesty. He then greeted the four military chiefs and senior government officials attending the ceremony.
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