Thaksin expelled from Dubai

THAILAND: Ousted former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra has left the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after he was requested by the UAE government and flown to stay in Montenegro from Tuesday, Theptai Senpong, spokesman for the Democrat Party's leader, said Wednesday.

The Democrat Party, which is headed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, has led the coalition government since the new Thai government has entered the Office since mid-December last year.

Theptai quoted Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' report to support his claim, the website of Bangkok Post said.

The UAE authorities asked Thaksin to leave after he had continued using Dubai as the base for his anti-Thai government activities, said Theptai. Fugitive Thaksin has reportedly had a Montenegro passport and investment interests in the Mediterranean principality, the website of Bangkok Post reported.

On August 17, Thaksin reportedly made a phone-in from Dubai to thank his red-shirted supports, who submitted a royal pardon appeal for him. Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September, 2006, in accusation of corruption, and kept in exile since then.

Thaksin returned to Thailand in February, 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia. Bangkok, Thursday, Xinhua