The move is a bid to end allegations he hired the company to lobby Washington to place Thailand on a list of copyright violators, his lawyer said yesterday.

Noppadon Pattama denied Thaksin hired Edelman to generate publicity against Thailand and that the company was behind the downgrade of Thailand's trade status with the US.

"To prevent further misunderstanding, Thaksin cancelled his contract with Edelman," he said.

Noppadon blamed Democrat Party executive Korbsak Sabha-vasu for spreading the accusations about Thaksin and the powerful lobbyist.

"After Korbsak brought the subject to public attention he defamed Thaksin by accusing him of being behind the downgrade of the country's status," he said.

Noppadon said Thaksin hired Edelman to defend himself in

the foreign news media against allegations made following the September 19 coup.

Noppadon arranged for Thaksin to speak with several international news media organisations, including CNN and Time magazine, he said.

Korbsak in February called on the US to clarify its position on Thaksin after the ousted prime minister hired another lobbyist - in which former secretary of state James Baker III is a senior partner - to monitor Washington's policy towards the military-backed government.

Its registration on the US Senate website confirms Thaksin hired Baker Botts LLP on December 11, 2006. Baker was the US secretary of state during the George Bush snr administration.

Baker Botts was hired to help "develop and implement a strategic approach to the various international legal and political issues that confront Thaksin as a result of the coup of September 19".

Noppadon said Thaksin would unconditionally return to Thailand to fight charges against him.

Thaksin is willing to return without the Assets Examination Committee issuing a warrant or seeking extradition, Noppadon said. "Thaksin wants to come back and take a rest in Thailand," he said.