Wife pressured Tej to quit: PM

"He [Tej] wrote a letter to me saying that the political pressure from society was not only on him but also on his wife, who gave in," Samak revealed in his special radio broadcast yesterday.

The society they live in, asked why Tej was serving a government that was looked down upon by people, Samak said. "I don't want to read out his letter. I understand him. He has been a civil servant for his entire career. I'm familiar with him and his parents," Samak said.

The prime minister said he had asked His Majesty the King to permit Tej, who was previously the adviser to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, to be the foreign minister to help solve the problem with Cambodia over Preah Vihear.

"I thank him and will find a new foreign minister," Samak said.

Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul would take care of the Foreign Ministry during the interim period.

The country is in urgent need of a foreign minister as Thailand is now the chairman of Asean, and to also represent the Kingdom at the United Nations General Assembly due late this month.

 Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said Asean members were concerned over the situation but Tej's resignation would not affect Thailand's chairmanship. If all parties in the country help to fix the problem, the country would restore its image, he said.

"I phoned Deputy Prime Minister Sahas to support and encourage him to start the preparations for the coming Asean Summit," Surin said.