Thailand's prime checks into hospital for medical check

Thailand's military-installed prime minister, Surayud Chulanont, checked into a hospital for an abrupt medical checkup Monday after canceling all his scheduled appointments for the day, the government spokesman said.

Photo: Thailand's prime checks into hospital for medical check

Surayud's doctors at Bangkok Hospital planned to hold a news conference at 3 p.m. (0800 GMT) to discuss details of the checkup, said Yongyuth Maiyalarb.

"As far as I understand, it was a medical checkup but the doctors will have more details at the news conference," Yongyuth told The Associated Press, adding that Surayud "canceled his appointments today and other Cabinet members are attending to these appointments instead."

Surayud's wife, Chitravadee Chulanont, told reporters that he was admitted to the hospital and would stay overnight.

Surayud, 63, was appointed prime minister after a Sept. 19 coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He has faced mounting criticism amid a run of bungled government policies and concerns that the interim government will not meet its stated timeframe for drafting a constitution and holding elections by the end of the year.