BANGKOK: A US-educated career diplomat, Saroj Chavanavirat, was confirmed on Monday as Thailand's new foreign minister, the third person to hold the job in the last two months.

Saroj, 66, was endorsed as foreign minister by Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, according to a royal statement.

Saroj studied in the United States and then served for 35 years in the foreign ministry, reaching the rank of permanent secretary in 1996. He was ambassador to France when he retired in 2002.

He replaces another career diplomat, Tej Bunnag, who resigned on Thursday after only six weeks in the post, complaining of the stress that the job had imposed on his family.

Tej's resignation was a blow to the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, coming amid anti-government protests that have besieged the seat of Thailand's government for the last three weeks.

British-educated Tej, a former royal adviser, had taken office in late July, when former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama was forced to resign after losing a court battle over the validity of a deal with Cambodia on a disputed temple on the border.

The courts have forced two other ministers to resign, as Samak's government struggles for survival against a barrage of legal challenges as well as the protests in the street.


- AFP/so