Deposed Thai PM Thaksin in China - coup leader

BANGKOK, Nov 2 (Reuters) Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has flown to China, although it is not clear if he is trying to engineer his return, coup leader and army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin said today.

''He is now in China,'' Sonthi said when asked if could verify rumours about Thaksin's whereabouts.

Thaksin's lawyer also confirmed the China trip, but refused to give details. ''If he wants to come back to Thailand he has to contact the government, not the Council for National Security,'' Sonthi said, referring to body the coup leaders set up with the power to dismiss the interim government they appointed.

Thai media reported this week that Thaksin planned to meet his successor, Surayud Chulanont, at a Southeast Asian leaders meeting in China, although Surayud and Chinese officials denied the report.

The army ousted billionaire telecoms tycoon Thaksin on September 19, citing ''rampant corruption'' and the need to end months of political tension caused by street campaigns against his rule.

Thaksin, who was in New York at the time, has been in London ever since.

Reuters SRS VP0755