The country's new military rulers Sunday drew up a four-man shortlist that includes former World Trade Organisation head Supachai Panitchpakdi, the military sources said.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be asked to confirm one of the men, who also include the current Bank of Thailand governor Pridiyathorn Devakula and the presidents of Thailand's two top courts, Charnchai Likhitchittha and Akkharathorn Chularat, the source said.

Supachai, the most internationally recognised of the four men, is currently the chairman of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

Junta officials met Saturday for almost three hours to come up with the shortlist and to draw up an interim constitution they said would pave the way for elections due to be held in October next year.

"The selection of a new prime minister is an urgent task on the agenda and a crucial issue for the junta that we cannot speed up," junta spokesman Major General Thaweep Netniyan told reporters after the meeting.

"The junta is confident that people will be satisfied with our choice of new prime minister," he added declining to name publicly those on the list.

The generals had promised to appoint a new civilian premier within two weeks of the military takeover.

So far the junta has imposed martial law, banned political activities and public gatherings, annulled the constitution and slapped restrictions on the media. It has also assumed legislative powers after dismissing parliament.

Meanwhile, Thailand's junta reaffirmed yesterday that deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra can return to Thailand, even as they begin investigating corruption allegations against him.

"Thaksin's status is that of a former prime minister, and he has every right to travel freely or return to Thailand. There is no problem since he's a Thai national," spokesman Lieutenant General Palangoon Klaharn told reporters.

The billionaire politician was in New York for the UN General Assembly when the military ousted him late Tuesday. He is now in London, where his daughter attends university and where he maintains a residence.

Since taking over, coup leaders have acted swiftly to remove some Thaksin supporters from top posts and appointed a new anti-corruption body to probe graft allegations during the former premier's rule.