Thai FM travels to Singapore

Thai FM travels to Singapore

BANGKOK (AFP): Thai Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra left here yesterday for Singapore as part of a familiarization tour of Southeast Asian nations.

Thaksin, a millionaire businessman who was appointed foreign minister in October, was scheduled to fly on to Jakarta the following day, returning to Singapore for a two-day private visit over the weekend.

Thaksin meanwhile said on Tuesday he would decide next week whether he would remain in government following the expected passage of a constitutional amendment seen as banning cabinet members from holding state concessions.

He ceded the chairmanship of his Shinawatra conglomerate to his wife on appointment to the cabinet, but the company holds a major government telecommunications contract.

Details of Thaksin's visit to Jakarta were not immediately available.