Thailand's ex-PM flies to China

Mr Thaksin has been living in London since the coup

Thailand's ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra is in China - the first time he has left the UK since taking refuge there in the aftermath of September's coup.

He is rumoured to want to return to Thailand, but the new administration has said he is not yet welcome.

There is speculation that Mr Thaksin went to China to meet Thailand's new premier, Surayud Chulanont, who was attending a regional summit there.

But both Mr Surayud and a lawyer for Mr Thaksin denied a meeting took place.

Under investigation

Rumours that the former leader is holding negotiations to try to return to Thailand refuse to go away.

Last week Mr Thaksin's wife, Pojaman Shinawatra, met Prem Tinsulanonda, the top adviser to Thailand's revered king, in what reports suggest was an attempt to ease the way for her husband to fly back to Bangkok.

But Mr Thaksin's legal adviser, Noppadol Pattama, insisted his client had no immediate plans to return home.

"Thaksin is in Beijing to meet with friends. He just arrived a few hours ago, and that was after Prime Minister Surayud returned to Thailand," Mr Noppadol told reporters earlier on Thursday.

The former leader's family originally came from China.

Both the coup leaders and Gen Surayud's government have said Mr Thaksin will not be allowed to return to Thailand until the situation has become more stable.

Various investigations into Mr Thaksin's term in power are currently under way in Thailand. Two separate bodies are looking into corruption allegations involving his family and close government aides.