Thaksin vows to return

Thaksin vows to return

Hong Kong - Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced Tuesday that he would return to Thailand, possibly within weeks, after the victory of his allies in weekend elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong, Thaksin said he would return to Thailand sometime between February and April, saying he wanted to return to politics but live as "a normal citizen."

The former prime minster, who was forced out of office by the military in September 2006, also said he would prove himself innocent of corruption charges laid against him by the military junta after he was deposed.

Thaksin, who has spent much of his time in Hong Kong since last year's coup, was speaking after the victory Sunday of the People Power Party in the first elections since the military takeover in Thailand.

The party won 232 of the 480 parliamentary seats up for grabs in the election, and its leader, Samak Sundaravej, said it would approach other parties to form a coalition government. (dpa)