A secretive 13,625-man special operations force already deployed across Thailand with a mission to quell unrest has been given funds of 556 million baht (about US$15. 4 million) by the Cabinet, local media reported Wednesday.

"The Council for National Security (CNS) asked to have its own special force to maintain peace and the rule of law in our country. The endorsement was in line with the interim constitution," government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said.

The CNS has asked the Cabinet to allocate 556 million baht ( about US$15.4 million) from the central fund, according to The Nation newspaper.

Yongyuth said the funds would mostly go to pay for food, overtime, materials and supplies, vehicle maintenance and fuel.

The CNS is expected to attract more criticism for using the fund after it was attacked for supplementing its salaries and placing military men at major state enterprises, the report said.

The military has been citing "undercurrents," or activities by supporters of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as a political threat. It fears mass demonstrations to oust the CNS, which seized power from Thaksin's regime on September 19.

According to local reports, the 13,625-strong force of the " Council for National Security's Special Operations Center" were recruited from the armed forces and police, and are already stationed at undisclosed locations.

The rapid deployment force began operating on December 1, and Yongyuth said it would be dissolved along with the CNS, tentatively on September 30 next year, which is the end of the fiscal year. The budget would cover 305 days of operations in total. The CNS has promised elections and a return to democracy by the end of 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2006)