Man City sale funded diamond-mine purchase: Thaksin

Thaksin revealed that his investment in a diamond mine was financed by profit from the sale of Manchester City Football Club.

He took the opportunity to use his interview with show host Chom Phetpradab as a platform to clear his name.

"Before the 2006 coup, rumour mongers claimed I took out 30 baggages filled with money. This is not true," he said.

He said his funds were not impounded by British authorities because he had no bank accounts in England.

With regard to his freedom to travel, he said none of the countries he visited had any objection or embarrassment to grant him entry.

"On the contrary, these countries are annoyed by Thai authorities trying to block him," he said.

He claimed that no country paid attention to his conviction related to the Ratchadaphisek land case.

The case was seen as a joke because a prime minister was found guilty for giving out his identification card to facilitate his wife to buy the plot when encroachers of forest reserve were left untouched, he said.

He denied reports about his ownership of a private jet or about his bodyguards. He said he had no fear for his life.

When asked about his view on reconciliation, he said he was ready to talk to everyone.

"If you or any taxi drivers and low-ranking policemen can have my phone number, then the powers-that-be should know how to get in touch with me," he said.

He said he was willing to hold talks with the prime minister or a deputy prime minister.

He said he wanted to hear what the government had to offer in order to foster reconciliation. It was necessary to find a mutual point to agree on because reconciliation is not a one-sided process, he said.

Commenting on the judicial process and his conviction, he said he was doubtful about the justice system.

Even though the majority of the courts are just, a small portion is not because of the outside interference beyond the government's control, he said.

"What happened was meant to oust me," he said.

He claimed that he was willing to step down if he was talked to "nicely". In fact he just clinged to office because he wanted to complete some unfinished tasks before his exit, he said.

In concluding his interview, he denied speculation about his illness with cancer. He said he was in good health.

Reacting to the broadcast of Thaksin's interview, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said he expected the state-run radio station to explain its action by today.

Chom said he just did his duty as a journalist.

Democrat MP Trairong Suwankhiri said he saw Thaksin as a pebble left inside a shoe.

Thaksin can be annoying but not capable of setting back the country, he said.

In gauging the sentiment, the utmost concern was about the street protests by the red shirts followed by Thaksin remaining politically active, Suan Dusit said in a survey released yesterday.

A clear majority of 63 per cent wanted the government to remain in office in spite of mounting obstacles. Only about 18 per cent voiced support for a snap election.