Exiled former Thai PM refused asylum

Exiled former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will not be granted political asylum in the Philippines, it has been disclosed.

The former Manchester City football club owner, who was deposed in a military coup in 2006, would be refused if he applied for asylum in the Philippines.

The news comes after it emerged at the weekend the UK Government revoked the visas of Mr Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman while they were out of the UK on business.

Mr Shinawatra, 59, fled to the UK in August while facing several charges including corruption in Thailand.

He was convicted in his absence last month by a Thai court and given a two-year jail sentence.

Prosecutors planned to seek his extradition from Britain before his visa was revoked on Saturday.

Currently in Beijing, Mr Shinawatra is said to have told reporters he will "keep travelling".

Philippines presidential spokesman Jesus Dureza said Mr Shinawatra had not applied for asylum.

"There is no such move," he said. "But if there is any in the future, we will courteously tell Thaksin that we will not allow him to come to the country to seek political asylum."

But Mr Shinawatra can enter Manila, the capital of the Philippines, as a tourist for 21 days without a visa, a privilege given to nationals from southeast Asia.

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Mr Shinawatra's brother-in-law, has arrived in Manila for talks. He has not made any statement on speculation that he might meet Mr Shinawatra.

A Thai court convicted Mr Shinawatra last month of violating a conflict of interest law by facilitating his wife's purchase of lucrative Bangkok real estate from a state agency in 2003, while he was prime minister. His wife was acquitted.

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