Ousted Thai Prime Minister arrives in London

LONDON - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a bloodless military coup, arrived in Britain on Wednesday, airport officials said.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said there had been no requests from Thaksin or his entourage for any meetings with British government ministers or officials.

Thaksin, wearing a dark suit and red tie, put his palmed hands together in a traditional greeting as he left a Thai Airways plane at London's Gatwick Airport.

Thai army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said on Wednesday that military coup leaders would choose a new prime minister within two weeks and step back from power.

Blair's spokesman was not aware how long Thaksin was expected to stay, but noted that he had relatives in Britain. One of Thaksin's daughters is studying at a university in London.

Speaking less than 24 hours after he led a bloodless coup to oust Thaksin, Sonthi said it would take a year to produce a new constitution leading to a fresh general election.

Blair's spokesman said the British government was concerned about developments in Thailand.

"Our general approach would be that we want to see a return to democracy as quickly as possible," he said. "There are elections scheduled for October and November and we are actively trying to find out whether those elections will go ahead or not."

British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett said on Wednesday that it was not seeking Thaksin's restoration.

- REUTERS