BANGKOK (Reuters) - The head of Thailand's royal advisory council will stand in as regent while the country grieves over the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and awaits for his son to formally succeed him, the government said.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said in an interview broadcast on state television late on Friday (Oct 14) that there was no uncertainty about the succession but, in the interim, the head of the powerful Privy Council would have to step in as regent.

"There must be a regent for the time being in order not to create a gap," Mr Wissanu said. "Even though there is no problem, because we have a clear answer, the head of the privy council must be regent temporarily."

"This situation will not be used for long," he added, without mentioning by name Privy Council head Prem Tinsulanonda, 96, a former army chief and prime minister.

Mourners lit candles and recited prayers before dawn on Saturday (Oct 15) outside Bangkok's riverside Grand Palace, where the remains of the King will lie for months before a traditional royal cremation.



Mourners pray during a candlelight vigil for the late Thai King outside the walls of the Wat Phra Kaew on Oct 15, 2016. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG



The world's longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol died on Thursday in a Bangkok hospital, at the age of 88.

The government has said Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn wants to grieve with the people and leave the formal succession until later, when parliament will invite him to ascend the throne.

The King's remains were taken in a convoy on Friday through Bangkok's ancient quarter to the Grand Palace, winding past thousands of Thais dressed in black, many of them holding aloft portraits of a monarch who was worshipped as a father figure.

Buddhist monks chanted prayers beside his coffin on Saturday as Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn came to pay her respects.



Mourners pray during a candlelight vigil for the late Thai King outside the walls of the Wat Phra Kaew on Oct 15, 2016. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG



Hundreds of people gathered outside the palace during the morning and some who had arrived before dawn lit candles.

"I didn't ever want to hear this news although it couldn't be avoided. All we can do now is hope that he will rest in peace," said Mr Sakhon Sondee from the eastern province of Surin.

The King had been in poor health the past several years and his death plunged the South-east Asian nation of 67 million people into grief.



Mourners pray during a candlelight vigil for the late Thai King outside the walls of the Wat Phra Kaew on Oct 15, 2016. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG



Most Thais have known no other monarch and King Bhumibol's picture is hung in almost every house, school and office.

People in the capital and in towns across the country dressed in black. The government has decreed that no festivities be held for a period of 30 days, the first month of one year of official mourning, but shopping malls were open on Saturday.

The Nation newspaper said government guidelines for the media stipulated that TV programmes and advertising "must not contain improper scenes such as entertaining, dancing or violent acts", and presenters must dress in white or black.

It said information related to the King's passing must be approved by authorised bodies, while criticism or analysis would not be allowed.

Military government leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said after the King's death that security was his top priority and has ordered extra troops deployed around the country.