"I have fully returned to work," Thaksin said as he entered government house, adding that he would lead all Cabinet meetings from now on.

Thaksin's return came amid uncertainty over when new elections could be held after the courts declared last month's polls invalid, and despite the threat of renewed protests against him.

The billionaire businessman returned to lead a caretaker government, with Thailand expecting court-supervised elections to take place later this year, possibly in late October.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 27, 2006
(C) All rights reserved