Sonthi said he did not believe that Thaksin wanted to return because although he had a lot of people who love him, many did not like him.

"I think it is just a tactic [saying Thaksin will return]. It is not necessary to take the risk. If I had a lot of money, I would not rush back,'' he said.

Another reason Thaksin may be unlikely to come back was because the Assets Examination Committee was coming up with more graft charges against him, the Army chief said.

Sonthi reminded Thaksin that he must ask the government if he wants to return. The CNS would then discuss with the government if the ex-PM could come back.

"It depends how the situation is when he wants to come back. That will be a deciding factor,'' he said.

Asked if Thaksin would be detained if he returned, Sonthi said the CNS would have to watch over him.

"We do not know what will happen. If he comes back and something happens to him, his group may accuse the CNS as the culprit. We fear that there may be third party to create a situation,'' he said.

If Thaksin came back and took to the stage to provoke his supporters, Sonthi said he did not know what would happen if he attempted to do that.

But if he came back only to fight corruption case he is implicated in, then it would be all right.

"If the cases can continue without him having to come back, there is no need for him to return because the situation is not good now,'' Sonthi said.

The junta chief was also asked about news that Thaksin had hired lobbyists to call for a boycott of Thailand and for the Surayud government to be brought down because his assets had been frozen. Sonthi said it was the duty of the Foreign Ministry and government to explain to the world how Thaksin had broken the law.

"Each country has its own constitution. The world community understands,'' he said.