The chances of Thaksin Shinawatra returning to Thailand after the general election are very slim because by that time he will be facing criminal charges in the justice process, the prime minister said yesterday.

Speaking during a luncheon meeting with 11 newspaper columnists, General Surayud Chulanont said that although there had been attempts to stir up an atmosphere to help Thaksin come back, political conditions would make it very difficult for his return.

"I know Thaksin well enough - he is a die-hard fighter - plus all the power he still musters," Surayud said.

Surayud, who was joined by Dr Kosit Pampiemras, the deputy prime minister and industry minister, spent about two hours with columnists to speak his mind about his embattled premiership.

He said he was not worried about grassroots support for Thaksin because people had realised his populist policies did not have a long-lasting effect.

On the contrary, news reports surrounding the irregularities of the former PM and his family members have enlightened the public's knowledge about what is actually going on, he added.

There has been speculation that Surayud has experienced a rocky relationship with members of the Council for National Security (CNS), the military body that launched the coup against the Thaksin government in September last year.

But Surayud said not one member of the CNS had come forward to request his resignation. "Anybody who has power and would like me to resign, then I shall be very happy because then I shall be lifted out of all the problems," he said.

Surayud is feeling more at ease with his health after undergoing treatment to his intestinal system. He said he was ready to continue his work and would like his Cabinet to also work hard during the remaining tenure of this interim government over the next seven months.

"I try to make adjustments. I have been counting the days and now there remains about seven months left. What I can do, I shall do," he said.

As for the Cabinet reshuffle, he said he did not want to remove incumbent Cabinet members because it would be a waste of time. Instead, he planned to appoint two or three additional people into the Cabinet.

Surayud said all the governments appointed after past coups had been able to proceed with their running of the country more easily and more conveniently than his interim government because they did not face such strong opposition.

But he said he would try to move the country forward so that the general election could be held on time and expressed confidence the interim government would stay on until the election.