Ex-premier Thaksin has no German passport : embassy

The German embassy in Bangkok yesterday denied press reports that fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra held a German passport, among others.

"Mr Thaksin Shinawatra does not hold a German passport," spokesman Theodor Proffe said.

Several Thai newspapers yesterday published stories quoting Chalerm Yoobamrung as saying the ousted premier held six foreign passports, including ones from Germany and Cambodia.

Chalerm, a member of the proThaksin Pheu Thai Party, told local newspapers about Thaksin's many passports after visiting the former prime minister in Dubai.

It had previously been rumoured that Thaksin had been granted passports by Nicaragua and Montenegro.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday that he believed Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's statement that Cambodia had not issued a passport to Thaksin.

"I met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen," Suthep said. "He said Thaksin did not hold a Cambodian passport. I believe that, and I didn't investigate the claim further."

Suthep was reacting to remarks by Chalerm Yoobamrung, who said Thaksin had showed him a Cambodian passport among six or seven passports during their meeting last week in Dubai.

In regard to extradition proceedings for Thaksin to be brought back to serve his two-year jail term, Suthep said: "Just wait and see."