Samak Cabinet starts work

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat said he expected Samak would assign work to his deputies within a few days.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said he was ready to be in charge of security if Samak assigned him. "The security matter mainly involves the violence in the south which I had earlier been in charge a few times,'' he said.

PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin said he believed he would be given responsibility to oversee agencies that involve legal work such as the Council of State, Office of the Civil Service Commission.

Asked if he thought about amending legislation that prevent ministers from having conflict of interest, he said he would make the decision after the law took effect.

That will not be the case, if the Constitution Court ruled that the law was unconstitutional, he said.

He said the government would soon appoint a panel to consider Constitution amendment.