Deposed Thai premier wants to return

BANGKOK, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed as prime minister last year by Thailand's military rulers, is now keen to return home with the election victory of his allies.

Speaking to reporters in Hong Kong, Thaksin, who had earlier refused to return to face corruption charges saying he cannot get a fair trial under the military government, says he can be home as early as February, Voice of America reported. He promised to stay out of politics while in Thailand.

"I want to go back to live my life peacefully in Thailand as a normal citizen, and also I would like to be sure that when I go back it's safe for me," he said.

In the elections Sunday, the People Power Party, which includes many Thaksin supporters, won 233 seats in the 480-seat lower house of parliament. The Democrat party, supported by the military, secured 165 seats.

Xinhua quoted PPP Secretary-General Surapong Suebwonglee as saying his party will have a majority of 280 to 290 members to form a coalition. But the VOA report quoted analysts as saying it was not clear if the military government would allow a pro-Thaksin party to form a government.

The United States has welcomed the election results saying initial reports indicated the polls were conducted in a free and fair manner.