Gen Sonthi promises to give answer within a month

"Just wait 30 days and I will speak about my future plans," he said during a trip to bid farewell to soldiers in the six northern provinces.

Sonthi is scheduled to relinquish his position of Army chief on September 30 and has insisted on revealing his plans only after retirement.

He confirmed he would not extend his term and that he would remain in the junta until an elected government assumed office.

Regarding the naming of his successor, he said the list of the military lineup would be submitted to the Defence Ministry by the middle of this month.

Under the military's procedures, the ministry will combine the lists from the respective wings of the armed forces for the prime minister to present for royal approval.

Junta spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnoed said the military would release a report on its oneyear achievements to mark the anniversary of the September 19 coup.

"The report will summarise the tasks the junta accomplished in the past year and signal the end of its mission," he said.

Any unfinished tasks will be left to an elected government to decide whether to complete, he said. Legal proceedings involving the ousted government are expected to stay on course till the completion of the judicial review, he added.

Assistant Army chief General Saprang Kalyanamitr said the coup was a success because it helped restore normalcy in the wake of a leadership crisis.