Referring to Surayud's remark that he could only work slowly because of the "old power-holders", Thaksin said through his lawyer Noppadon Pattama that the task was difficult and Thaksin had never got in Surayud's way.

According to Noppadon, Thaksin said he was not afraid of being charged and would be happy to come back to Thailand to testify to the court immediately. However, before the court convicts him he should be "treated as an innocent".

Surayud said on Thursday the chances of the ousted premier returning to Thailand after the general election were "very slim" because he would soon be facing criminal charges.

Thaksin does not want to come back to the country at the moment for the "sake of the country's unity," Noppadon said.

However, Noppadon believed Surayud could have been more fair, saying that while cases against Thaksin had been progressing, cases against Surayud for allegedly encroaching on a forest reserve and against Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin for alleged bigamy had moved slowly.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on a radio programme he wanted to see Thaksin return to Thailand "to face the charges".

People will learn the truth as the legal process goes on, he said, though he doubted whether Thaksin would retire from politics.

Kesinee Jaikawang,

Yossawadee Hongthong

The Nation