Sonthi declined to discuss whether the government or the CNS would alter the so-called People's Constitution of 1997.

He admitted the CNS had found it hard to prove two of the four charges it had cited as reasons to overthrow the Thaksin government. One was the lese majeste charge against deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the other was corruption in his government.

However, the Assets Exami-nation Committee and other related agencies working on the case

will report the progress on all the cases on Tuesday, he said. Sonthi ensured that the general election would be held by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai Party caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang said he believed Sonthi's statement that he would not cling to power but said he was not confident that other members of the CNS would not try to stay on.

He cited the move to allow a non-elected PM as one of the grounds and dismissed the reason cited by those who support a non-elected PM - to prevent capitalists from running the country - as "groundless".

"If that is the case, MPs can support non-elected capitalists for PM,'' he said.

He expressed concern that if the new constitution does not pass a public referendum, the 1997 constitution might be altered in such a way that democratic principles were violated, such as allowing a non-elected PM or appointed senators.