Thaksin Shinawatra prepared to leave the United States for an uncertain future on Wednesday after watching his downfall in a military coup on television from a New York hotel.
NEW YORK: Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra prepared to leave the United States for an uncertain future on Wednesday after watching his downfall in a military coup on television from a New York hotel.
Thaksin had been holed up in a plush Manhattan hotel, waiting to give a speech to the UN General Assembly, as tanks rumbled into Bangkok and took control.
Thaksin cancelled plans to state his case in a speech at the UN headquarters. The Thai ambassador to Washington, Virasakdi Futrakul, said outside the hotel that Thaksin was preparing to leave New York, though he did not say where the prime minister would go.
A busload of officials from the Thai delegation accompanying him left for New York airport on Tuesday night. Thaksin remained ensconced with his advisors in the hotel.
Thai officials said the delay in Thaksin's departure could be due to negotiations between his aides and people linked to the military coup, or even with countries that could accept the prime minister.
Tom Kruesopon, a member of Thaksin's ruling party and an advisor to the prime minister, said "the prime minister has not given up his power. He is not seeking asylum."
Kruesopon said he believed Thaksin could make a stopover in London, where he has family and a home. He still had an official plane at his disposal in New York.
Shinawatra took refuge in the luxurious confines of the 1,400 room Grand Hyatt as his fate was apparently sealed by Thai army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who took over the prime minister's powers, revoked the constitution and imposed martial law.
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