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Ousted Thai Prime Minister arrives in Britain
The billionaire politician arrived in Britain just over 24 hours after a military-led coup seized power in Thailand.
Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has arrived in Britain just over 24 hours after a military-led coup seized power in Thailand.
The billionaire politician arrived on Wednesday evening at Gatwick Airport, about 40 km from London on board a chartered flight from New York.
According to British Foreign Office, Thaksin has not asked to meet Tony Blair or any other ministers during his "private visit".
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the fact Thaksin was visiting the UK did not mean the Government supported his reinstatement.
It is believed that Thaksin will now be reunited with members of his family in London, where one of his daughters is a student. He has a house in London.
The ousted prime minister emerged from the Airbus 340 aircraft surrounded by an entourage.
As he walked down the steps on to the Tarmac he placed his hands together as if in prayer in the traditional Thai greeting.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said there was "no significance" attached to the fact that Thaksin was visiting the UK.
"It is not for us to say that he should be reinstalled," she told reporters in New York.
"We believe that there should be a return to constitutional government but there is no significance as far as we're concerned in him going to London."
