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Noppadon said Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam made a false allegation that Thaksin fled the Malaysian capital before authorities swooping down on him.

"The fact is Thaksin flew from Dubai to Fiji and had to choose a stop-over for refuelling either in Bangkok or in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

There was no attempt to arrest him when Thaksin spent a night in transit, he said.

Thaworn gave a misleading account that Malaysian authorities were trying to enforce the arrest warrant although the extradition request had not been submitted yet, he said.

He claimed foreign leaders were willing to welcome Thaksin because they understood the politically-motivated charges.

Some countries even provided a motorcade for Thaksin during his stay, he said.

He reiterated none of the countries were trying to arrest Thaksin inspite of the lobbying efforts by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

Thaksin remains free to travel to any destinations of his choice, including members of the Common Wealth like Fiji, he said.

In regard to the call by red-shirt co-leader Kwanchai Praipana for Thaksin to end his exile by the year's end, he said he was unaware of any plans to return to Thailand at this juncture.

Pheu Thai Party MP Pracha Prasopdee said Thaworn had fabricated a story about Thaksin fleeing the Malaysian authorities.

Thaworn should have evidence to back up his story instead of trying to smear, Pracha said.

Vice Foreign Minister Panich Vikitsreth said he had the Malaysian confirmation that Thaksin used a passport issued by Montenegro to spend one night in Kuala Lumpur.

Panich said the Office of the Attorney General has already filed two extradition requests for Thaksin, one with Malaysia and another with Australia.

The request filed with Australia is designed to apprehend Thaksin in Fiji where Thailand has no diplomatic relations, he said.