Bangkok, Thailand ? Surayud Chulanont, a former army commander and a close adviser to Thailand’s powerful monarch, has been chosen as the country’s interim prime minister, the auditor general said Thursday night.

Surayud, a highly regarded 62-year-old retired officer, was selected by the country’s ruling military council that seized power from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept. 19 and vowed to name a civilian prime minister within two weeks.

The appointment is expected to be officially announced after it receives approval from King Bhumibol Adulyadej.