Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej nominated a retired career diplomat as the country's new foreign minister Saturday, the third in seven months.

The Bangkok Post reports Saroj Chavanaviraj would replace Tej Bunnag who resigned earlier in the week amid the political crisis and street protests surrounding the current administration.

He had replaced Noppadon Pattama who resigned July 10 after backing Cambodia's bid to have an 11th century temple on the countries' shared border declared a World Heritage Site.

Saroj is a former ambassador to France and has held several positions in Thailand's Foreign Ministry.

He must be endorsed by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej before becoming foreign minister.

Mr. Samak is under added pressure to fill the open post because Thailand is hosting a regional summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in December.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters.