Thai junta chief says temporary charter to be drafted, interim government set up by September

BANGKOK – The head of Thailand's military junta says an interim government will be set up in the next three months, offering the most specific timeline yet on a possible transfer of power after last month's coup.

Army commander Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has already said it could take more than a year for new elections to be held because peace and reforms must be achieved first. On Friday, he said that a temporary constitution would be drafted and an interim government set up in August or early September.

After that, a reform council will be set up to institute political reforms in the deeply divided country. Prayuth said it would include rivals from Thailand's long-running political conflict.