Web Radio
May 28, 2008
» Midday Update

Latest News
February 7, 2008 Thursday
Home > Latest News > Asia
Feb 7, 2008
New Thai foreign minister resigns as Thaksin's lawyer
Mr Noppadon, an Oxford-educated lawyer, had been defending Mr Thaksin against corruption charges filed by the previous military regime. -- PHOTO: AFP
BANGKOK - THAILAND'S new foreign minister, Noppadon Pattama, said on Thursday that he had resigned as the personal attorney for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Noppadon, an Oxford-educated lawyer, had been defending Mr Thaksin against corruption charges filed by the previous military regime. He had also acted as the exiled billionaire's de facto spokesman in Bangkok.

'I have finished my job as the legal adviser for former premier Thaksin. I will work full-time only as foreign minister,' he told a press conference.

Mr Thaksin has been living in Britain since the military toppled his government in Sept 2006. After his allies were voted back into power in December, Mr Thaksin's wife told a court that he would return to May to defend himself.

Mr Noppadon said that as foreign minister, he had nothing to do with Mr Thaksin's eventual return.

'The only role I have now is as foreign minister,' Mr Noppadon said. -- AFP

Best viewed at 1152x864 resolution with IE 6.0 or FireFox 2.0 and above
Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E | Privacy Statement | Terms & Conditions