Hong Kong: Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted former Prime minister of Thailand, has said he is considering returning home from exile.
Speaking to reporters in Hong Kong, Shinawat said he was willing to act as an advisor to the People's Power Party, made up of his supporters and allies, which on Sunday won the country's first election after the 2006 military coup.
Shinawat said he wanted to clear himself of corruption charges brought by military appointed investigators. The former Prime Minister has lived in the UK since he was ousted in in a bloodless coup. In May a court had banned him from taking part in politics for five years and dissolved his party.
Speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong, Thaksin congratulated the People's Power Party - comprised of his allies - for its victory at the polls on Sunday.
"This is the Thai people's wishes," said Thaksin. "I would like to congratulate the Thai people for bringing democracy back to Thailand."
The election should mark "the beginning of reconciliation efforts by all parties," he said. Thaksin was ousted by the Thai military on September 19, 2006. He was abroad during the coup and has since lived in exile, mostly in London. He is legally barred from office, the courts dissolved his Thai Rak Thai Party, and he has been charged with corruption-related crimes.
The pro-Thaksin PPP campaigned on the pledge to bring him back into Thailand's political scene.
With Agency inputs
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