Danny's Studs (28/02/2008)
Endearing himself, see last paragraph.
Former Thai PM Thaksin back home
Supporters of former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra at Bangkok airport, 28 Feb 2008
A large crowd of supporters was waiting for Thaksin in Bangkok
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on bail shortly after his arrival in Thailand after spending 17 months in exile.
He said he would beat what he called politically motivated corruption charges from the years he was in power.
The 58-year-old billionaire businessman was briefly detained by police on his arrival at Bangkok airport.
He was removed from power in a military coup in September 2006 and has lived outside the country since then.
At the airport he was greeted by a huge roar from thousands of flag-waving supporters.
Some of the key figures from the new government were there to meet him before he was whisked away to the Supreme Court where he was granted bail.
He is allowed to travel abroad, but only with the court's permission.
Opponents' fears
"I have to restore my reputation which has been tarnished by the coup," he told reporters with him on the plane from Hong Kong.
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Harding on the flight, Mr Thaksin said he would "definitely" be cleared of corruption charges against him.
"I've done nothing wrong, why worry?" he said.
Mr Thaksin said he wanted to live peacefully as a "normal citizen" and would not be seeking revenge against the coup bosses who forced him out of power after five years in office.
Mr Thaksin's party, Thai Rak Thai, was outlawed following the coup and he was personally banned from politics for five years but his opponents fear he has returned to influence events from behind-the-scenes.
Many of Mr Thaksin's followers formed the People Power Party (PPP), which won elections in December last year.
When asked if he would be pulling the political strings in Thailand, Mr Thaksin told the BBC that he had retired from politics.
"I think in my life I have devoted a lot to my country and I think I have done a lot politically. No more politics."
Mr Thaksin has some $1600m (£800m) in frozen accounts in Thailand. He told Andrew Harding this was his family's money which he would try to get released.
He said he had mixed feelings about returning to home, but that he now wished to focus on his family and his football interests - he owns Manchester City and was travelling with two of the British club's players.
"Manchester City Football Club in my family investment so we will have to do our best to make it successful," he said. Gives me a lot of faith in the man this! Hopefully he'll come through, unlike many others before him