Thaksin broke his media silence and spoke about his ouster on CNN Monday night, but most Thais were unable to watch excerpts of the interview as local cable provider UBC switched to images of celebrities.

 CNN will broadcast the full interview on Saturday, but UBC spokeswoman Kantima Kunjara told AFP that they will not air it because of a request by the Council for National Security, as the junta calls itself.

 "Since the CNS has asked for cooperation from broadcasting media not to broadcast statements from former prime minister Thaksin, UBC will cooperate and will not broadcast his interview," Kantima said.

 Her comments came after media watchdogs expressed concern that coverage of Thaksin was blocked on Monday night.

 "In our view this measure is regrettable and contrary to your country's interests," said media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

 "Censoring or blocking news or information carried by any media does not prevent the information's existence, and those who want to have access to it usually succeed," it said in a letter to the country's military rulers.

 Thaksin was ousted in September while he was out of the country. A variety of censorship orders were later issued, including a threat earlier this month to shut down broadcasters who carried statements by Thaksin.

 "Last Monday we received good cooperation from the media," a junta spokesman said.

 But the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) said it would write to new Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to express its "deep disappointment" that the interview was not broadcast.

 The letter to Surayud on behalf of the FCCT's professional membership said the attempt at censorship "casts the Thai authorities in a poor light" and was "pointless" as the interview was reported in print media and on the Internet.

Agence France Presse