"I'll take this chance to relax and meet old friends. I want to take a break. I'm getting old," Thaksin, 56, told reporters before heading to Bangkok's international airport.

When asked if he would hold talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Thaksin said, "I'll meet with familiar leaders. We could possibly have some coffee. But my meeting is unofficial. It has nothing to do with politics or business."

One of Thaksin's daughters is studying in London.

Earlier this week, a source told The Nation that Thaksin is seeking a meeting with Blair and leaders of some of the other countries he planned to visit. The proposed meetings have caused discomfort among members of the diplomatic community as Thaksin's political status is still unclear.

After his stop in the UK, Thaksin said he would fly to the United States to visit universities in Kentucky and Texas where he received a masters and a doctorate in criminal justice.

He will return to Bangkok on April 19 and attend a meeting of his party on April 24 before flying off to China and Japan later in the month, he said.

"I will travel more as many countries have invited me to give lectures on economics and how to solve economic problems," he said.

On April 4, Thaksin announced he would step down as prime minister despite his party's victory in the previous weekend's election, which was boycotted by the main opposition parties.

He chose his top deputy and justice minister, Chidchai Vanasatidya, to serve as acting premier until a new prime minister is named.

Thaksin criticised the Democrat Party's deputy leader Surin Pitsuwan, also a former foreign minister, for his comments about Thaksin's planned trips. Surin had criticised Thaksin's trip as a political ploy.

"[Surin] should allow the right side of his brain to work a little bit more in order to make more creative comments. He should use his free time during the Songkran holiday to take a rest and make more creative comments for the sake of the country," Thaksin said.

The Nation