Thaksin to return home before May : foreign minister

"Definitely he will return before May and his legal team will work out an exact date," said the minister who was Thaksin's legal advisor and spokesman.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said Friday he hoped Thaksin would return soon.

"It's time that Thaksin should come home," the minister told reporters.

Thaksin has been in self exile in London and Hong Kong after he was toppled in a coup in 2006. He and his wife were charged of abusing of power. His wife had already returned to Bangkok to defend charges.

Earlier Pojaman said her husband would return in May to defend charges of abusing of power while Chalerm said Thaksin would return on Valentine's Day.