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However, he asked for time for his Cabinet members to work and to prove their worth. "Okay, there may be some mismatches, but I think the ministers may be able to prove that they can work in the new positions. In the case of Chalerm Yoobamrung, he may be able to prove that he fits the post if he is allowed to work," Somchai said.

He was responding to a reporter's request for an explanation of the appointment of Chalerm as public health minister and Sompong Amornwiwat as foreign affairs minister. Both are not known to have credentials in the respective fields.

Somchai also said that it was difficult to completely satisfy everybody in the People Power Party, the core coalition partner, when it came to appointing Cabinet members.

"There are lots of people. We prepared the Cabinet list the best we could. Some people might be happy while others were upset. Politically, we will have to go on, the country has to progress," the PM said.

"You can't get everything you want when preparing a Cabinet list. There should be an explanation to improve the understanding. We will have to continue with our work. We can't be disheartened," he said.

The prime minister also asked for time to defend himself against the nickname of "Cabinet of the wife's brother" given to his government by the opposition Democrat Party. Somchai's wife Yaowapa is the younger sister of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is believed to have retained influence over the ruling People Power Party.

The premier called the first meeting of his Cabinet this morning at the government's temporary office at the Don Mueang Airport compound. He was expected to meet with representatives from coalition parties in the afternoon to prepare for a declaration of the government policy statement before Parliament.

PM's Office Minister Sukhumpong Ngonkham said yesterday that a parliamentary meeting on the policy statement declaration was expected in the week after next.

Government House has been occupied by the People's Alliance for Democracy since late last month as part of its unending rally against the government.