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"The military rotations must be done under the royal insignia and no one should comment on what is bound to be proven wrong by transgressing on royal powers," he said.

He added no one could say with certainty about his successor before seeing the royal command.

Sonthi said the list for military assignments was almost completed as he just met with Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas in the morning to iron out some positions to avoid overlapping assignments from respective wings of the armed forces.

He spoke on the sidelines of a ceremony for him to bid farewell to soldiers at the Army Reserve Command.

"My last two years in the military service have been a hard experience but I am not discouraged from upholding a soldierly duty to safeguard the nation," he said in reference to the coup, which he saw as a projection of military power on grounds of national security.

He thanked his subordinates for rallying behind his leadership and said although he had to leave a military career of 44 years due to retirement, he would always keep in touch with his soldiers.

"Even as we, the elder officers, reach mandatory retirement, we will continue to serve the military and the country tirelessly and want younger officers to uphold the legacy of honesty and dedication for nation building," he said.

In a separate ceremony, he also said goodbye to soldiers at the Second Cavalry Division and urged younger officers to strive for public trust in the military.

He is scheduled to relinquish his Army leadership on September 30, although he will remain the junta chief until an elected government assumes office.