Thailand's crown prince requests time to mourn; PM says succession can wait

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday the appointment of a successor to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died earlier in the day, would be made later, and the crown prince had asked for time to mourn with the Thai people. "Let us wait for the right time," Prayuth told reporters.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, who is expected to succeed his father, had asked for time to mourn with the rest of the country, Prayuth said.

Thailand's National Assembly ended an extraordinary meeting on Thursday without inviting a successor to late King Bhumibol Adulyadej to ascend the throne.

Members of the assembly met late on Thursday and stood in silence for nine minutes.

Earlier, the assembly had called a special session following news of the king's death.

"Today there is nothing. We are preparing for the next steps," Peerasak Porjit, vice president of the National Legislative Assembly, told Reuters.

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