Britain explains decision on visa

He added that there was no question of Thaksin's visa being reissued as long as he was subject to the court's ruling.

Speaking to TV reporters during a visit to Bosnia, Miliband's comments were the first clear indication of the reasoning behind the UK's surprise decision to revoke the visas of both Thaksin and his wife Pojaman.

Over the weekend, the UK's Home Office revoked the couple's visas while they were travelling outside the UK. This has dealt a severe political blow to Thaksin, who had sought asylum in the UK and tried to use London as his base to make a political comeback.

Miliband said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was the minister who had made the revocation decision following Thaksin's conviction in absentia to two years in jail for abuse of power in connection with Pojaman's purchase of land on Ratchadaphisek.

"The home secretary, who is the decision-maker in the question of visas in the UK, has made clear |that the conditions were changed |by the conviction in the case of Thaksin," Miliband said upon arrival in Bosnia.

"It is as a follow-up to that [court] decision that you have now seen a change in the visa approach [concerning the Shinawatras]," he added.

The foreign secretary said he had not, however, expected to be asked about the situation surrounding Thaksin's visa while he was in Bosnia.

Thaksin was in Beijing on Monday, from where he said he was planning to travel to another destination. He vowed to fight back by naming all his political enemies.

Jatuporn Promphan, a People Power party-list MP, said supporters of the former prime minister would continue to hold rallies to display loyalty to Thaksin and would allow him to phone in to speak directly to crowds.

He said a major rally would be held at the National Stadium in Bangkok on December 10, which Thaksin would address by telephone to get his message across.

"We're ready to support Thaksin because he is suffering as a result of the military coup in 2006. It is up to him to decide whether he reveals the names [of his enemies] in the message to his supporters," he added.

Jatuporn said another rally would be held on November 23 at Nonthaburi's Wat Suan Kaew, of which the well-known Phra Phayom Kalayano is abbot.

Further pro-Thaksin rallies will spread throughout the country, beginning at Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai, he said.