Ousted PM to come home without asking permit from the junta

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will end his exile and return home soon without having to ask permission from the military junta, his spokesman Noppadon Patama said Tuesday.

The exact date and time of his return will be known within a couple of days, Noppadon said in a press conference.

Thaksin decided to return home because "he was being bullied" by the military junta, Noppadon said, adding particularly after the Assets Examination Committee's order to seize his and his wife's wealth.

Thaksin criticised the order as being "unfair" and ordered setting up of legal team to bring the case to both civil and criminal courts. The legal team is expected to complete their formal complaint within this week.

Thaksin, who went into exile after being ousted in September last year, believed that the junta ordered the AEC to rule that way.

The order to seize the assets was another serious blow to Thaksin's political standing after his Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved in May.