CNN had broadcast five-minute excerpt of the interview with Thaksin from Singapore on Monday night.

The full half-and-hour interview with CNN's Bangkok Dan Rivers will be aired on its special edition "Talk Asia" at 7.30am and 11pm Saturday and at 8.30am and 9pm Sunday Bangkok time.

Thaksin told Rivers in the interview aired on Monday that he decided to stay out of the political arena and lived like a normal citizen. "Enough is enough," he said. He also denied that he was behind the New Year's Eve bombing that killed three people and injured 40 others.

The following is the CNN's transcript of the interview aired on Monday. (DR - Dan Rivers/TS - Thaksin)

TS - It's baseless allegations. No one believes so. Because everyone knows who is, who am I. I come from election, I come from the people. I owe gratitude to our people. I do everything for the good of the country and the people. I don't do something that's stupid.

DR - So you had no involvement..

TS  - Not involvement at all. Uh, and but I would like to express my deep sympathy, deepest sympathy for those who lose, lost their loved ones and also all those who are injured. And the individuals who are involved must be brought to justice.

DR - This is the first time you've spoken since the coup of September the 19th, first of all, you were in the United States, in New York at the UN, when this happened, how  did you find out that this was going on?

TS - Well I find out just uh, about uh, 4, 5 hours uh, before, before it happened, but I trying to get into the television station but uh, its very difficult at that time I cannot get into it until I can get into channel 9 briefly, but uh, you know, which I, it's a rumors at that time but I don't believe that this can happen again in the 21st century.

DR - So it was surprise when it happened?

TS - It's very surprise because you know, but anyway 70 years in Thailand, 17 coups happened is very unfortunate but it's, uh, it's an event that happened here in Thailand.

DR - Will you go back to, go back into politics?

TS - No. No. (DR: Go back as a private…) Enough is enough. Six years you serve the countries. You been working hard. You sacrifice your time, even your life. And uh, even your family life. So it's, it's time for me to go back as a private citizen and contribute to the Thai society outside political arena.

The Nation