It has now been confirmed that last year's removed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return on Thursday to Thailand, but has vowed to stay out of Thai politics forever.

But critics fear that the homecoming of Thaksin Shinawatra, one of the richest men in Thailand and owner of soccer club Manchester City, will embark Thailand in another political crisis.

Thaksin Shinawatra said that the only thing he wants is return to his homeland and be able to hug his wife and children again. "The country has since this month returned to democracy, so I want to go back home to my motherland," Thaksin said during a press conference today.

Thaksin Shinawatra will be welcomed by his supporters and members of the new Thai government at Bangkok airport, on his return home tomorrow. Thaksin has lived abroad since the military junta overthrew the Thaksin government during a military coup in Bangkok in September 2006.

But today, even Thai government officials say they plan to welcome Thaksin with open arms. Transport Minister Santi Prompat said that he even ordered the Airport Authority of Thailand to prepare the special VIP rooms on Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok for his return to Thailand

The PPP Thai political party, who consist mostly of Thaksin allies, won the December 2007 general elections and now leads, since this month the new six-party coalition government in the country. The December 2007 elections were the first since the military junta disposed of the goventemnt for abuse of power and corruption accusations.

Current Minister Chalerm Yoobambrung promised voters that if they chose the People's Power Party (PPP), they would bring Thaksin back with full honors to Thailand.stop