Chaturon, speaking at the party headquarters, said the call was his first to the former party leader since the coup.

"It was just a normal talk. I asked him about his life [in London] and also made an apology to him for not having called him before," he said.

Chaturon said Thaksin thanked him for taking over as acting leader of the party. However, the overthrown premier did not say much and only emphasised that he was not Thai Rak Thai leader anymore and he would not do anything relating to politics, Chaturon said.

"He told me the party's activities were now mine [to handle]. I understood that it was his last message, and I will follow his words, yet I don't feel like the real leader, just the interim leader. It is up to the executive board to select the [real] leader," he said.

Chaturon felt that Thaksin should wait until a democratic government was established before returning home.

"In my view, if the deposed leader comes back at this time, I'm afraid he might become a political victim because he would be blamed for being a trouble-maker," he

said.

Chaturon said a plan to move the party's headquarters from Phetchaburi Road to Rajvithi road had been postponed, as the former Thai Rak Thai office now belonged to the Thaicom Foundation.

"We will stay in Phetchaburi Road for a while but we have to reduce utility costs. The new executives will discuss the situation about our headquarters again," he said.

Kesinee Jaikawang

The Nation