Workers affiliated with the Alliance of Democratic Trade Unions take to the street yesterday to make a number of demands on the new government, including urgent solutions to labourers’ problems and rapid restoration of democratic rule.

The new premier met with a number of respected technocrats yesterday, fuelling speculation that they could become part of his Cabinet.

Surayud also called former Army chief-of-staff General Boonrod Somthat, his former classmate, yesterday evening to persuade him to become his defence minister, according to a source.

Surayud said that when the Cabinet line-up was ready, he would explain why ministers were picked for their jobs. He repeated his promise to pick his Cabinet within a week of his appointment on Sunday. When asked if it would be a "dream Cabinet", he replied: "I don't dream about it. I have to live with reality."

The interim premier will serve for one year and turn over his authority to an elected politician, according to a timeframe set by the generals who overthrew the Thaksin Shinawatra government on September 19.

Surayud had lunch yesterday with General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, leader of the Council for Democratic Reform, now known as the Council for National Security. The PM said he did not discuss the Cabinet line-up with Sonthi.

They were joined by former Interior permanent secretary Aree Wongsearaya, who yesterday was speculated to take the interior minister's seat in the interim government.

Separately, Surayud yesterday met with former education minister Kasem Wattanachai at Government House, said a source, who added that Kasem had to skip a meeting on religious education he was to chair. They were expected to discuss Kasem's role in the new Cabinet, probably the education portfolio.

Bangkok Bank executive chairman Kosit Panpiemras, who on Tuesday called on Surayud at Government House, was tipped to be a deputy prime minister overseeing rural development and decentralisation policies. Kosit served as deputy agriculture minister in the Anand Panyarachun administration.

Surayud yesterday said the new Cabinet would be unable to hold their first meeting next Tuesday as the appointees had to take part in a swearing-in ceremony before His Majesty the King first.

Bank of Thailand Governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, who is expected to head the government's economic team, said yesterday it was likely the line-up would be ready this week.

Meanwhile, TV announcer Yongyuth Maiyarap, who is expected to become government spokesman, said he expected the identity of new ministers to become clearer at the weekend. "I believe the public will be happy with the appointees. The prime minister will select good and capable people who are acceptable to society," he said.

In a related development, opposition grew yesterday to the possibility of National Energy Policy Office's former secretary-general Piyasvasti Amranand taking up the energy minister's seat in the new administration.

Consumer-rights activist Rosana Tositrakul, who in April was elected a Bangkok senator, said Piyasvasti's involvement in certain unpopular power plant projects made him unsuitable for the post. Sirichai Mai-ngam, who heads the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand's labour union, submitted an open letter voicing opposition to appointing Piyasvasti as the energy minister. He alleged Piyasvasti has "caused much damage" to the country's electricity sector.