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Thailand's PM Abhisit warns against Thaksin return Thailand's PM Abhisit warns against Thaksin return
(about 3 hours later)
Thailand's prime minister has warned the country may face renewed political instability if the next government invites his predecessor, Thaksin Shinawatra, to return from exile. Thailand's prime minister has warned the country may face renewed political instability if former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, returns from exile.
Abhisit Vejjajiva told the BBC that the next government should not "put one man's interest before the country's. It brings instability."Abhisit Vejjajiva told the BBC that the next government should not "put one man's interest before the country's. It brings instability."
But in another BBC interview Mr Thaksin said he was "useful" to Thailand.But in another BBC interview Mr Thaksin said he was "useful" to Thailand.
Thais go to to polls on 3 July in what is expected to be a close contest. Thais go to to polls on 3 July in a contest that Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party admits it could lose.
Since Mr Thaksin's ouster in a military coup five years ago, Thailand has been convulsed by political turbulence, largely focussed around those who love him and those who hate him, says the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey.Since Mr Thaksin's ouster in a military coup five years ago, Thailand has been convulsed by political turbulence, largely focussed around those who love him and those who hate him, says the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey.
Just over a year ago more than 90 people died in anti-government protests.Just over a year ago more than 90 people died in anti-government protests.
Some opinion polls suggest Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party is trailing behind the main opposition Pheu Thai party - led by Mr Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck and, critics say, effectively controlled by from exile by Mr Thaksin himself. All recent opinion polls suggest Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party is trailing behind the main opposition Pheu Thai party - led by Mr Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck and, critics say, effectively controlled by from exile by Mr Thaksin himself.
"I give advice, I write the policy, because I have more experience that anyone else in the party, so I give advice to them," Mr Thaksin told our correspondent when she travelled to meet him in Dubai, where he is living in order to avoid a prison sentence for corruption. "I give advice, I write the policy, because I have more experience than anyone else in the party, so I give advice to them," Mr Thaksin told our correspondent when she travelled to meet him in Dubai, where he is living in order to avoid a prison sentence for corruption.
He said he did not see why that should make his critics nervous.He said he did not see why that should make his critics nervous.
"Why so nervous? I'm useful to the country," Mr Thaksin said."Why so nervous? I'm useful to the country," Mr Thaksin said.
Mr Thaksin's opponents, including the incumbent prime minister, would strenuously refute that, our correspondent says.Mr Thaksin's opponents, including the incumbent prime minister, would strenuously refute that, our correspondent says.
'Incitement''Incitement'
They fear that if the opposition comes to power, Mr Thaksin will be absolved of all past misdemeanours under an amnesty and return home triumphant.They fear that if the opposition comes to power, Mr Thaksin will be absolved of all past misdemeanours under an amnesty and return home triumphant.
In an interview with the BBC's HARDtalk programme, Mr Abhisit said Mr Thaksin had been "responsible for inciting the red-shirts" - opposition supporters involved in last year's deadly clashes with the military.In an interview with the BBC's HARDtalk programme, Mr Abhisit said Mr Thaksin had been "responsible for inciting the red-shirts" - opposition supporters involved in last year's deadly clashes with the military.
He said the opposition were campaigning on their connections with Mr Thaksin but urged the election winner not to "put Thaksin's interest before the people's and the country's".He said the opposition were campaigning on their connections with Mr Thaksin but urged the election winner not to "put Thaksin's interest before the people's and the country's".
"There are people who are willing to use violence and cause instability. I'll do all I can to make sure that doesn't happen, and I'm confident that... we'll prove ourselves to be resilient," Mr Abhisit said."There are people who are willing to use violence and cause instability. I'll do all I can to make sure that doesn't happen, and I'm confident that... we'll prove ourselves to be resilient," Mr Abhisit said.
He insisted the decision of the Thai people would be respected, whoever won.He insisted the decision of the Thai people would be respected, whoever won.
"It's for the Thai people to decide and come 3 July they will make that decision and we will all respect that decision - and I urge the red-shirts to do the same," Mr Abhisit said."It's for the Thai people to decide and come 3 July they will make that decision and we will all respect that decision - and I urge the red-shirts to do the same," Mr Abhisit said.