Bank of Thailand Governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula emerged as head of his economic team.

Pridiyathorn attended Govern-ment House yesterday to discuss with Surayud the prospect of joining the new government. He is expected to take over as a deputy premier and finance minister.

He said Surayud would be able to form a Cabinet in the next few days. The new PM said on Sunday he would make the appointments within a week.

Pridiyathorn declined to disclose the details of his talks with the PM.

He said: "The prime minister has asked me to join the government. I have agreed to the offer. But he has not told me what he wants me to do. He only said he would like some more time to work out the Cabinet line-up. But he told me that he would be giving me a job that I am good at."

General Phongthep Tesprateep - a confidant of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda - is likely to be appointed as secretary to the prime minister.

He said he had not been approached for the job yet, although he admitted he had started to co-ordinate with officials at Government House.

"We have just discussed internal affairs. There is nothing much more than that. It is normal to get things moving again. I have been assigned by the prime minister to worship sacred beings at Government House on his behalf," he added.

Surayud has been reserved, while moves to nominate candidates for the Cabinet have been hectic. One political source said in the end he would listen to all recommendations and opinions before making his own decisions about the final 35 members.

Palakorn Suwannarat, a Privy Council member and veteran of the Interior Ministry, has been tipped to become interior minister. The Surayud government is expected to stress tackling security problems in the deep South.

However, the political source thought Palakorn would be better as a deputy prime minister in charge of security, to allow him to both look after the national police and the Interior Ministry, and tackle security problems more effectively.

Tej Bunnag - also a member of the Privy Council and a former career diplomat - has been rumoured as the likely foreign minister, while Dr Kasem Watanachai, another Privy Councillor, could be a candidate for the education portfolio. Kasem used to serve as education minister in the first Thaksin government before resigning due to differences of opinion.

Pramote Maiklad - a former Bangkok senator - has been suggested as the next agriculture minister, while former permanent secretary for commerce Krirk-Krai Jirapaet might take over as commerce minister.

There is also speculation energy expert Dr Piyasvasti Amaranand may be approached to become energy minister, while Dr Vithoon Saengsingkaew is the favoured candidate for the health portfolio.

Ajva Taulanond heads the list for the industry portfolio.

There are at least three candidates for the defence portfolio, namely General Boonrod Somthas - who has close ties to Prem - General Somthad Attanand, a former army chief, and General Thawat Kiatangkul.

Yongyuth Mayalarp, a news anchor, has been approached to serve as Government House spokesman.

A political source said General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who played an important role in the coup, might want General Wichit Yathip, a close aide and a retired assistant army chief, to become deputy interior minister.

Dr Likhit Thiravekhin, an academic and head of the Palang Phaendin Thai Party and an economic man of Chavalit, may be approached to serve as deputy interior minister.