Thaksin leaves Japan for Macao+

TOKYO, Aug. 28 Kyodo -
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra left Japan for Macao on Sunday after meeting with senior Japanese lawmakers and visiting areas hit by the March earthquake and tsunami during a weeklong stay.
Thaksin, who headed for Macao on his way back to Dubai, where he lives in exile, denied a report that he will visit Cambodia shortly, during an interview with Kyodo News before his departure from Tokyo's Haneda airport.
Thaksin, who lives in Dubai to avoid a jail term for a corruption conviction in Thailand, also expressed his gratitude for Japan's special entry permission although its immigration law bans entry by fugitives.
During the stay in Japan, Thaksin voiced his intention to work on helping Thailand under the premiership of his younger sister Yingluck. He also expressed hopes of strengthening ties with Japan during a meeting with Japanese lawmakers in Tokyo. He visited disaster-hit areas such as Natori and Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture.