BANGKOK - THAILAND'S prime minister on Sunday vowed not to interfere in the trial of his old ally Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted premier who is due in court this week to face corruption charges.

'He (Thaksin) is coming back to face trial this week. People said be careful, this government should not interfere with the justice system,' Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on his weekly television address.

'This government would not dare to interfere with justice,' he said.

General elections in December brought his allies in the People Power Party (PPP) into government, paving the way for his return after 17 months in self-imposed exile.

The entrepreneur-turned-politician is due in court on Wednesday when he is expected to enter a plea on charges of using his political office to win a property deal for his wife.

Mr Thaksin said on Thursday that he would ask the Supreme Court to grant him permission to travel to Britain, where he owns the English Premier League football club Manchester City.

If Mr Thaksin is allowed to leave Thailand, he would have to return for an April 3 appearance before prosecutors, who are deciding whether to bring another court case against him over alleged securities fraud.

The People's Alliance for Democracy, which spearheaded anti-Thaksin protests in early 2006, has vowed to take to the streets against any perceived interference with the courts.

Mr Samak, a combative right-wing politician, appeared rankled last week by suggestions that Mr Thaksin was pulling the strings in the new government, telling a senior US diplomat that 'today is my day as prime minister'. -- AFP

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