Gen Anupong succeeded Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who retired at the end of Sept and is now a deputy prime minister in charge of security.

This latest reshuffle came much earlier than expected. It was supposed to take place after the armed forces' annual parade to pay homage to His Majesty the King early next month, days before the King's birthday on Dec 5.

Army sources interpreted the move as one of deep concern by the army chief over his leadership. He wanted to make sure he has full control of units with questionable loyalty, they said.

The changes also relieved officers loyal to deputy permanent secretary for defence Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr of key duties in the Third Army, which is responsible for the northern region. Some colonels whose loyalty to Gen Anupong was in doubt were also moved to less important posts, according to sources.

''Gen Anupong was unsure about some soldiers' loyalty and they have been transferred so that he can put his men in instead,'' an army source observed. In addition to changes in key positions in the Second and Third armies, some major changes involved officers in the capital, including Lt-Col Pattachai Chintakanont, a close aide to Gen Anupong.

Lt-Col Pattachai, who is a personnel staff officer at the First Army in charge of the central provinces and the capital, was ordered to head the Fourth Cavalry Battalion based in Bangkok. The unit has played a vital role in military coups in the country.

He replaced Lt Col Sanyalak Tungsiri, who was moved to oversee operations for the First Army, despite being at the battalion for one year.

''He is not Gen Anupong's man. So he had to put someone he trusts in this position,'' one source said.

The reshuffle came after an Isoc poll conducted before Gen Sonthi's retirement showed the PPP was leading the race for the Dec 23 elections.

The PPP, led by Samak Sundaravej, would have won about 280 of the 480 seats in the new House, according to the poll. About 240 seats under the PPP banner would come from contests in constituencies nationwide and the rest from the party-list system, it added.

The figures are in line with recent claims by the PPP that it would win 250 seats in parliament. The claims were ridiculed by the PPP's main rival, the Democrats.

The Democrats came second in the Isoc poll with 125 seats, about 25 of them from the party-list contest.

Thailand's oldest political party has predicted it could win 150 seats in the election, but believed the PPP could get a similar number.

According to the Isoc poll, Chart Thai came third with 35 representatives. Next was Puea Pandin, which had 14 seats, Ruam Chai Thai Chart Pattana with 13 representatives, Matchimathipataya with 11 seats and Pracharaj only three.

The poll was ordered by then army chief Gen Sonthi, who assigned Isoc advisor Gen Panlop Pinmanee to undertake the survey, according to sources.

But Gen Panlop, who is close to Gen Sonthi, yesterday denied his agency had conducted the poll, but admitted the PPP's influence remained strong in northern and northeastern provinces.