Pridiyathorn has already been offered the dual responsibilities of deputy prime minister and finance minister, so he will head the interim government's economic team.

Kosit met Surayud at Government House for about 20 minutes yesterday afternoon to discuss the prospects of him joining the Cabinet. He later revealed that he would join the new Cabinet in one of the economic posts.

It earlier appeared that the military council behind the coup wanted him to become agriculture minister, as Kosit is known to be a keen development economist with a concern for income distribution and rural development.

However, when questioned after meeting Surayud, he denied speculation that he will be the next agriculture minister, saying that all posts depend on the prime minister's final decision.

Kosit has close links to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, who is also honorary chairman of Bangkok Bank.

He said Bangkok Bank chairman Chatri Sophonpanich has given him the green light to resign from his position and he will return to the bank after completing his Cabinet assignment.

Former National Energy Policy Office secretary-general Dr Piyasvasti Amranand has emerged as a likely choice as energy minister. He is one of the country's top experts in the energy industry.

The post of foreign minister is still unde-cided. The name of former Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Saroj Chavanavirat was floated in a conversation between the current permanent secretary, Krit Garnjanagoonchorn, and the prime minister. But other candidates are Tej Bunnag, the deputy principal private secretary to His Majesty the King, and another former Foreign Ministry permanent secretary, Nithya Pibulsonggram, who also met with Surayud yesterday.

In the Thaksin government, Nithya, a former ambassador to the US, played an important role in Thai-US free-trade talks, which were stalled by the political situation.

Last week, a military source told The Nation that the leader of the Council for National Security, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, was eyeing former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan for the job. Although Surin's nomination may be welcomed by the international community, the generals have acknowledged that his membership of the Democrat Party will hurt his chances.

Through one of his aides, Privy Council member Plakorn Suwannarat denied speculation that he will take the Interior Ministry post. He said he appreciates the broad support for his candidacy to the important position, but he is already pursuing the most important duty at the Privy Council, and he will be unable to join any other organisation.

He is also aware that expectations of the new interim Cabinet under Surayud will be high.

General Somdhat Attanand, a former Army chief, is one of the top candidates for the post of interior minister. He was a strong supporter of Gen Sonthi to become Army chief. However, Gen Oud Buangbon, a former Defence Ministry permanent secretary and a close aide of Prem, is also a candidate for the Interior post.

A former director-general of the Land Department, Banyat Chansena, appears to be a strong candidate for the post of deputy interior minister. Gen Vichit Yathip, a confidante of Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, has also been approached to become deputy interior minister.

In one of the biggest surprises to surface last night, Air Chief Marshal Thares Punsri, a former Defence Ministry deputy permanent secretary, emerged as the leading candidate for appointment as defence minister.

There had been strong speculation that Gen Surayud himself would take the Defence portfolio as well as the prime ministership, to keep the number of former military top brass in the Cabinet line-up as small as possible.

Other possibilities for Cabinet posts include former Culture Ministry permanent secretary Khunying Thipphavadee Meksawan as minister of the PM's Office; Siam Society president MR Chakrarot Chitraphong as culture minister; Krirkkrai Jiraphaet as commerce minister; Dr Vitura Sangsingakeo as public health minister; Ajva Taulananda as industry minister; and Dr Kasem Watanachai as education minister.