Thailand's interim cabinet sworn in

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha (front row, C) and his cabinet pose during a photo session at Government House after an audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok on September 4, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

BANGKOK -- Thailand's interim cabinet, under the leadership of the 29th Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, was sworn in before the king on Thursday.

During an audience with the king at Siriraj Hospital in capital Bangkok, where the king is currently staying, Prayuth pledged allegiance to the country and vowed that the cabinet would work to the best of its abilities to ensure progress and stability of Thailand.

The king reportedly did not address the prime minister and 32 cabinet members.

The new cabinet is set to convene its first meeting on September 9, before it delivers the policy statement to the National Legislative Assembly, the provisional legislature.

The cabinet is expected to administer the country for around a year before a general election takes place in the latter part of next year or early 2016.

In a related development, Prayuth on Thursday urged panels tasked with selecting members of the National Reform Council (NRC) to screen candidates in a fair, honest and transparent manner.

The 250-seat NRC is intended to carry out reforms in 11 fields, including politics, state administration, local administration, law and justice, education, economy, energy, public health, environment and mass media.