"As the NCCC has more than 11,000 cases pending, we have to place priority on the ones that caused most damage to the country," Panthep Klanarongran said. The cases in this category included allegations against national politicians and senior state officials, he said.

"Those cases are expiring, and we don't want to see the wrongdoers walk free without facing any charges," Panthep said, adding the new NCCC would meet on Monday to set a framework for its huge task.

NCCC member Klanarong Chantik admitted that the NCCC at this point had tasks that overlapped with a new ad-hoc committee set up to probe the assets of the former premier and his cabinet. The NCCC members agreed that secretaries of the two panels should coordinate to prevent any conflict over duties, he said.

"The country is in crisis. We all should be hand-in-hand to axe the corruption," Klanarong said.

The Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) is getting tough on the ousted government of Thaksin Shinawatra over graft allegations. Its says dealing with such matters is a priority to help restore national stability.

The NCCC's nine members were appointed last Friday by the CDRM.

NCCC secretary-general Saravut Maenasawase said the new NCCC's first task was to state the assets of Thaksin's Cabinet members. Ministers and the PM reported their wealth prior to the coup.

Meanwhile, Klanarong reportedly met with Sawat Chotephanich, head of the asset-probe panel, yesterday. The men are believed to have compared evidence for cases involving Thaksin and his ministers.