Bangkok  - Thailand's king on Wednesday approved the cabinet lineup submitted by new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and the new ministers are scheduled to be sworn in Thursday, the government announced.

Under Thailand's constitutional monarchy the appointments must be approved by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is head of state, and they are official only after they are sworn in by the king.

The 35-member cabinet includes Somchai also serving as defence minister, as had former prime minister Samak Sundaravej who resigned earlier this month.

Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will be one of five deputy prime ministers. For Chavalit, 76, it will be his third time as a deputy prime minister. He has also served as defence minister twice and minister of interior before becoming Thailand's 22nd prime minister from 1996-1997.

Sompong Amornwiwat will also serve as a deputy prime minister and foreign minister. Another veteran of Thai politics Sompong, 67, was considered along with Somchai to replace Samak as prime minister early this month.

A deputy leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and former justice minister, Sompong said he will be ready to assume the post.

For the important post of finance minister Somchai has picked Suchart Thadathamrongvech, who is currently acting deputy finance minister.

"I have agreed to take up the post because I am an economic specialist," Sucahrt told local media Wednesday, adding he would give the Bank of Thailand (BoT) a free hand to implement monetary policy.

Suchart faces a tough challenge guiding Thailand through the fallout of the financial crisis in the US.

Somchai, 61, was appointed September 18 after Samak lost his post on September 9 when the constitution court found him guilty of illegal moonlighting by hosting television cooking shows.

Somchai is the brother-in-law of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is widely believed to be pulling the strings of the new government.

The cabinet will be official after they are sworn in by the king which is scheduled for Thursday. Somchai said he hopes to have the first cabinet meeting as early as late this week. (dpa)