BANGKOK - THAI Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has chosen retired diplomat Saroj Chavanaviraj as the new foreign minister, newspapers reported on Saturday, the third one in seven months of fraught coalition government.

Mr Saroj, 66, replaces Mr Tej Bunnag, a career diplomat with close ties to the palace who resigned this week amid a political crisis engulfing Mr Samak.

Anti-government activists have occupied Mr Samak's official compound for 12 days, demanding he quit. They have rejected his offer to hold a referendum.

Mr Tej was appointed in July after a row over a temple with neighbouring Cambodia forced out his predecessor.

Finding a quick replacement for Mr Tej was crucial for Bangkok, currently holder of the rotating chairmanship of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) and host of its regional summit in December.

Mr Saroj retired as ambassador to France in 2001 and has served as the head of various departments in the Foreign Ministry. -- REUTERS