Ousted Thai PM Thaksin shopping for Sydney home

CANBERRA, Feb 12 (Reuters) Inspired by a weekend of golf and sun-drenched harbour views, ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is shopping for a seaside mansion in Sydney.

The Bangkok billionaire, deposed in a bloodless military coup last September, said he had asked a friend to find him a waterside home in Sydney's wealthy eastern suburbs, where houses routinely cost A million (.7 million).

''Sometimes it's too cold in London. I better stay here in Sydney,'' Thaksin told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio today, saying his preferred place was in the upmarket suburbs favoured by models, business millionaires and cinema stars.

Thaksin, in Australia for a brief holiday away from his London home, spent the weekend playing golf at the Capital Golf Club in Melbourne and the exclusive The Lakes course in Sydney.

''I think Sydney is very safe and I have friends here. I like Australia. The people are friendly and sincere. The weather is good.

It is clean and safe and I can play golf all year round,'' he told The Australian newspaper.

Thaksin said his ousting and subsequent exile from his homeland had given him time to spend with his family again, ruling out any desire to return to Thai politics.

He said the only thing he was currently considering was stock market investment and charity work in support of rural development backed by Thailand's King.

''It's time for me to compensate for what I've missed in the past. If I think I can live (to) 80 years old, why there are only 9,840 days left. I'm counting already,'' Thaksin said.

''I have to live my life to allow me to have some kind of happiness, because I've been working hard too much for my family, for my country, for the people.'' Thaksin underpinned his six years in office by building support in rural regions and providing health care, education and housing to Thailand's poor.

But after selling his family stake in Shin Corporation to Singapore Government investment wing Temasek Holdings, Thaksin is facing corruption allegations at home and has been blamed for failings in Bangkok's defect-riddled new international airport.

''I feel very disappointed, for what I really did is devote myself for the country, for the people and for the monarch,'' he said of the accusations levelled by Thailand's military-installed government. ''The allegations against me are really the opposite.'' REUTERS PDM PM1124