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

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.