Thai king endorses coup leader as prime minister

This handout photograph received from the Government House and taken on August 25, 2014 shows Thai Army Chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha paying his respects in front of a portrait of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Army headquarters in Bangkok. - AFP PHOTO / Government House

BANGKOK, Aug 25, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's coup leader was formally endorsed as prime minister by the nation's revered king on Monday, in a step towards forming a government to oversee sweeping reforms in the politically turbulent kingdom.

Army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, 60, who booted out an elected government in a bloodless power grab on May 22, was chosen uncontested as premier last week by a national assembly made up mainly of military figures.