Thaksin Shinawatra

Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra affirmed he would quit politics at his first press conference in Bangkok after returning to Thailand late last week, ending 17 months of self-exile since a military coup toppled his government.

The ex-premier said he had planned to return to Thailand ever since Sept. 20, 2006, the second day after the military top brass toppled him in a coup while he was attending a UN meeting in New York.However, he and his family were forced to live abroad for more than 17 months. A written statement released to reporters listed personal security concerns and worries for the junta's interference with the justice system, as reasons of his self-exile.

Thousands of jubilant supporters met him when he flew back last Thursday.

Facing charges of abuse of power, he was granted bail on condition he does not leave again without permission.

The multibillionaire, who bought Manchester City soccer team last year, has said he intends to stay out of politics now he is back in the country. But correspondents say there are fears his return could lead to political turmoil.

He said this was the proper time for him to return to the country. According to him, Thailand is returning to the normal track of democratic rule under a Constitutional Monarchy after the Dec. 23, 2007 general election.

He said as a 59-year-old man, he now wished to live quietly and peacefully with his family as a normal Thai citizen."I have travelled around the world, but I have found that there is no other place as warm and happy to me as my home country. I want to live the rest of my life here," he said.

Thaksin arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport by a Thai International Airways flight from Hong Kong. After meeting thousands of supporters waiting outside the airport, he reported himself to the Supreme Court, which earlier issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and his wife Pojaman on charges of power abuse and corruption.

-IANS